Based on evidence presented by the prosecution, the Tbilisi City Court has convicted eight individuals, including five minors, in a case involving hate-motivated torture committed by an organized group, organizing and participating in group violence, and group robbery, according to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.
The court established that members of the group, which adhered to a “fascist-Nazi” ideology, organized and participated in attacks on people, including minors, whose lifestyles and views they deemed unacceptable.
The investigation established that the group members selected their victims in advance and launched organized group attacks motivated by intolerance. The victims were humiliated and subjected to physical and psychological abuse and torture. In many instances, the attackers filmed the assaults, sharing the footage on social media and in private online groups. In several cases, the victims’ personal belongings were also stolen.
The court found all the defendants guilty under the charges brought under the Criminal Code of Georgia, including torture committed by an organized group (including against a minor), organizing and participating in group violence, and robbery.
Two of the adult convicts were sentenced to 14 years in prison each, and another received 8 years. For the minors, the court applied the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Code to reduce their sentences: one was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months, two received 9 years and 4 months each, another was sentenced to 6 years, and one received 5 years and 4 months in prison.
