The officers of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Office, detained 13 people in Tbilisi, Telavi and Kutaisi as a result of complex investigative and operative activities.

The detainees are as follows: V.G. (DoB 1978, Nicknamed “Vito”), J.Kh. (DoB 1976) (Nicknamed “Jecko”), R.G. (DoB 1983, nicknamed “Pupusha”), G.R. (DoB 1974, nicknamed “Khonsky”), R. D. (DoB1987, nicknamed “Bacho”), A. Sh. (DoB1992), A. L.(DoB1995), G. M. (DoB1973, nicknamed “Gibona”), G. D. (DoB1978), I. Ch., (DoB 1975), M. K. (DoB 1966, nicknamed “Tkvlipe”), G. M. (DoB 1978), M. M. (DoB 1996, nicknamed “Memi”). The mentioned individuals are accused of membership in the so-called “thieves’ world”, appealing to a member of the “thieves’ world” and supporting the activities of the “thieves’ world”.

The committed crime envisages from 7 to 10 years of imprisonment.

Z. M. (nicknamed “Glekhovich”) - a thief in law residing abroad was charged in absentia, which envisages from 9 to 15 years of imprisonment.

The investigation established that one of the detainees had a financial dispute with a business partner regarding the unfair distribution of income while doing business.

The disputing parties appealed to the members of the “thieves’ world” to resolve the dispute, after which one of the thieves-in-law- Z.M., instructed his son - M.M. to organize a criminal skirmish.

M.M. organized the criminal skirmish on April 16, 2021, in one of the residential houses located in Tbilisi, as a result of which one of the disputing parties was ordered to pay 80,000 GEL in favor of the other side.

As a result of the search activities carried out on the basis of the court decision, the law enforcers seized computer equipment and the detainees’ mobile phones, applied to communicate with each other and with the Georgian “thief in law” living abroad.

Law enforcers have also seized 4 vehicles and firearm magazines as evidence on the basis of the judge’s decision.

Investigation on the fact of being a “thief in law”, the membership of the so-called “thieves’ world”, appealing to a member of the “thieves’ world” and supporting the activities of the “thieves’ world” is in progress under article 223-(1), Part I and II, article 223-(3) and article 223(4) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.