According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, officers of the Tbilisi Police Department’s Isani-Samgori Main Division and the Kvemo Kartli Police Department, as a result of a joint police operation, arrested 7 individuals accused of various serious crimes.

The investigation established that the suspects, under false pretenses, visited the homes of citizens of the Russian Federation late at night, claiming they needed to check for a gas leak.

“The suspects, using cold weapons and threatening to kill them, stole 2,000 US dollars, as well as mobile phones and a laptop from the victims. They then physically assaulted them and demanded an additional 300,000 US dollars, threatening to kill them if the demand was not met. A few hours later, the victims were forced at gunpoint into different vehicles and taken in the direction of Marneuli municipality.

Law enforcement officers, as a result of operational measures and investigative actions carried out within the framework of the criminal case, arrested all seven individuals as defendants in Marneuli and Gori.

Relevant measures are ongoing to identify and detain other possible participants in the crime.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 144 and 179 of the Criminal Code, which refer to hostage-taking and robbery committed by a group, involving two or more persons, with prior agreement, using violence dangerous to life or health, unlawful entry into a residence, and the intent to seize property in large amounts. The crime is punishable by up to 14 years of imprisonment,” the statement reads.