Mother and her friend charged with exploiting 11-year-old child in Tbilisi

Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has charged the mother of an 11-year-old child and her friend with the alleged group exploitation of the minor for labour purposes.

An investigation conducted by the Interior Ministry established that, from April 2024, the mother and her friend allegedly recruited the child, who was financially and otherwise dependent on her, for the purpose of financial gain and subjected the minor to labour exploitation.

The Office said the two accused allegedly used psychological and physical violence to force the child to beg on the streets of Tbilisi, setting daily financial targets.

The child was allegedly not allowed to stop begging or return home until the required amount had been collected, even during extreme summer heat and cold or rainy winter weather.

Investigators also established that the accused allegedly prevented the child from attending school, took the minor to inappropriate places at night and moved the child between different residential addresses where living conditions were inadequate. The child was also allegedly deprived of sufficient food and seasonally appropriate clothing.

The charges carry a prison sentence of up to 17 years.