Georgia law enforcement arrest 29 in nationwide operation targeting criminal underworld

Georgian police have arrested 29 people suspected of links to the criminal underworld in a nationwide operation carried out over the past 24 hours, Central Criminal Police Department Director Davit Kiknadze has said.

Three other people are to be charged in absentia, including an alleged "thief-in-law" living abroad, the official said on Wednesday. 

Kiknadze noted the operation was conducted by the Central Criminal Police Department together with the Prosecutor General's Office and involved coordinated operational and investigative measures across the country. The arrests were made under court orders.

Investigators alleged that the suspects became involved in financial disputes between citizens for personal financial gain.

Kiknadze said Besik Japaridze, an alleged "thief-in-law" living abroad, was involved in the process to strengthen criminal influence and exert psychological pressure on the parties to the disputes.

The suspects allegedly organised meetings known as "thieves' disputes" in coordination with Japaridze.

Japaridze made final decisions during remote communications and in-person meetings in accordance with the rules and traditions of the criminal underworld. Those decisions required one party to pay substantial sums of money to another, the official said.

Investigators also alleged that the suspects threatened citizens and their family members with physical violence, injury and death if they failed to comply with imposed obligations or meet specified deadlines.

Police seized mobile phones and computer equipment allegedly used by the suspects to communicate with each other and with the alleged criminal authority living abroad. Officers also seized illegally acquired firearms and ammunition during searches.

The offences carry penalties of up to 15 years in prison.

Kiknadze said combating organised crime, including criminal activity linked to the so-called thieves' world, remained one of the Interior Ministry's main priorities and that anyone involved in such schemes would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.