Rena Humbatova, Deputy Director of the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency (AREA), said that harmonizing electricity market regulations across Central Asia and the South Caucasus is essential for unlocking the full potential of regional renewable energy trade and strengthening energy cooperation with Europe, AzerNEWS reports.
Day: June 2, 2026
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia announced arresting three people and launching criminal prosecution against six more after uncovering fraudulent visa and migration schemes in joint efforts with the U.S. Embassy’s Regional Security Office (RSO).
According to prosecutor Giorgi Mikia’s June 2 press briefing, the joint efforts led to the identification of two organized criminal groups, with suspects accused of assisting Georgians in fabricating asylum claims, producing false documents for obtaining Canada and U.S. visas, charging thousands of dollars in fees, and defrauding migrants held in U.S. immigration detention.
Prosecutors said the first group emerged after tighter U.S. immigration policies made crossing the U.S. border more difficult. Investigators allege that four Georgian citizens formed an organized criminal network that sought out people wishing to obtain asylum in the United States and offered to “build [asylum] cases,” gather supporting evidence, and provide assistance during court proceedings.
The investigation identified 366 Georgian citizens who allegedly turned to members of the group for assistance in obtaining asylum in the U.S., prosecutors said.
“The members of the organized criminal group wrote non-existent stories in so-called [asylum] cases about how Georgian citizens were persecuted in Georgia for various reasons, including on the grounds of political views or sexual orientation,” prosecutors said. To reinforce those claims, the suspects allegedly produced forged documents and charged thousands of U.S. dollars for their services.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the group charged between USD 1,000 and USD 1,500 for preparing asylum “cases,” USD 3,000 for forged supporting documents, and an additional USD 6,000-8,000 for managing asylum proceedings and securing a successful outcome.
Prosecutors also stated that two members of the group defrauded Georgian nationals held in immigration detention, obtaining USD 10,000 from four individuals without providing the promised assistance. The group also allegedly promised Georgian citizens assistance in obtaining Canadian visas, with one of the suspects charging an undercover officer from the Prosecutor’s Office USD 800 in exchange for forged documents, including a bank statement and an employment certificate indicating that the officer was employed in the U.S.
Prosecutors said that joint efforts with the U.S. Embassy RSO also helped uncover a second organized criminal group that helped citizens obtain U.S. visas through forged documents. Mikia said the group used social media platforms to advertise assistance with U.S. visa applications, telling clients they would only be required to pay USD 10,000 to USD 15,000 if their visas were approved. According to the prosecutors, the group assisted 65 Georgian citizens with forged documents, with some of them ending up getting visas and paying a total of USD 112,000 in cash to the members of the group.
The alleged scheme was uncovered after embassy officials verified part of the submitted documentation, resulting in the revocation of visas issued to all citizens assisted by the group’s members. Still, according to the investigation, between January 2025 and February 2026, members of the second group allegedly generated USD 142,786.43, GEL 15,095, and EUR 1,560 through the scheme.
The nine suspects face charges including organizing/facilitating the submission of false information for the illegal stay or asylum of Georgian citizens abroad for financial/material gain through large-scale fraud committed by an organized group, and producing and distributing forged official documents. Prosecutors said the charges carry a maximum penalty of up to nine years in prison.
Also Read:
- 01/06/2026 – U.S. State Department Representatives Conclude Georgia Visit, Issue Statements
- 19/03/2026 – Georgians Will Be Required Posting Up to $15,000 Bonds for U.S. Tourist, Business Visas
- 15/01/2026 – Georgia Among 75 Countries to Face Suspension of U.S. Immigration Visa Issuance
Geopolitical disruptions are no longer occasional events affecting global energy markets but have become a recurring feature of the international landscape, requiring governments and businesses to fundamentally rethink their energy strategies, AzerNEWS reports, citing Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).