Officers of the Isani-Samgori Main Division of the Tbilisi Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with employees of the Kvemo Kartli Police Department, detained seven individuals accused of various serious crimes as a result of joint operational measures. The information was released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

“The investigation established that the accused, by deception, went late at night to the apartment of citizens of the Russian Federation under the pretext of checking a gas leak. Using cold weapons and threatening to take their lives, they took 2,000 US dollars from the Russian citizens, as well as mobile phones and a laptop. They then physically assaulted them and demanded an additional 300,000 US dollars, threatening to kill them otherwise.

Several hours later, the victims were forced at gunpoint into different vehicles and driven in the direction of the Marneuli municipality.

As a result of operational measures and investigative actions carried out within the criminal case, law enforcement officers detained all seven accused persons in Marneuli and Gori.

Relevant measures are also 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 of Georgia, which provide for hostage-taking and robbery committed by a group by prior agreement, against two or more persons, with violence dangerous to life or health, with illegal entry into a dwelling, and with the aim of seizing property in a large amount. The crime carries a penalty of up to 14 years of imprisonment,” the statement said.