Employees of the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia have detained one individual on charges related to the illegal acquisition, storage, and use of personal private information. The Prosecutor's Office has released this information.

According to the agency, an investigation conducted by the Tbilisi Prosecutor's Office Department for Combating Violations of Personal Privacy established that the accused engaged in correspondence with various individuals via the social network Instagram. During these interactions, the accused secretly stored intimate photo and video material containing personal private information sent by these individuals without their consent. Furthermore, the accused threatened one minor victim with the distribution of the illegally obtained material to coerce them into continuing communication.

"The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia conducted investigative and procedural actions within a tight timeframe: victims were questioned, searches were conducted at the accused’s person and residence, electronic information storage devices were seized, electronic information was requested, and an information-technological expertise was carried out. As a result of the personal search of the accused, dozens of illegally obtained intimate photos and videos belonging to multiple individuals were found on the seized mobile phone. Currently, efforts are underway to identify and question the affected individuals.

Prosecutor's Office employees detained the accused on October 7 based on a court order. The accused is charged under Article 157(1) of the Criminal Code of Georgia (illegal acquisition, storage, and distribution of personal private information), which provides for a penalty of up to 7 years of imprisonment.

The Prosecutor's Office will petition the court within the legally prescribed timeframe to impose detention as a measure of restraint for the accused," the statement reads.