The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has charged 11 individuals with "thievery under the code" ("kanonieri kurdoba"), membership in the "criminal underworld," supporting the activities of the "criminal underworld," being a member of the "criminal underworld," and addressing a so-called "thief-in-law." The information was released by the Prosecutor's Press Service.

According to the same source, an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs established that, in order to resolve a financial dispute through a "criminal underworld ruling" (“kurduli garecheva”), the disputing parties contacted members of the criminal underworld and a so-called "thief-in-law," who organized multiple "criminal rulings" and demanded payment from one of the parties.

The investigation also revealed that a so-called "thief-in-law" residing abroad instructed members and supporters of the criminal underworld under his control to organize such "criminal rulings" with the disputing parties. The members of the underworld, through their supporters, contacted the disputing parties and arranged these criminal arbitrations.

Two individuals were charged in absentia under Article 223¹, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (“thievery under the code”), which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Three individuals were charged under Article 223¹, Part 1 (“membership in the criminal underworld”), punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Two individuals, one in absentia, were charged under Article 223³, Part 2 (“supporting the activities of the criminal underworld”), which is punishable by up to 6 years in prison. Four individuals were charged under Article 223⁴, Part 1 (“addressing a member of the criminal underworld or a so-called thief-in-law”), which carries a sentence of up to 7 years in prison.

Based on a motion from the Prosecutor's Office, the court has already imposed pre-trial detention on the accused. The criminal investigation is ongoing.