The Tbilisi City Court is currently holding proceedings regarding the case of 12 individuals detained for facilitating prostitution and providing premises for prostitution.
At today’s hearing, the court will deliberate on the imposition of pre-trial measures for the detained individuals.
The prosecution is requesting the strictest pre-trial measure – detention – while the defense attorneys will file motions for their release on bail.
Malخaz Velijanashvili, the lawyer for one of the Chinese citizens among the detained, stated that his client is exercising their right to remain silent. He plans to request the court today for his client’s release on a 3,000 GEL bail.
“No one has been questioned in the case; there is only covert material, and the person who is cooperating has been interrogated… It so happened that a specific individual was in communication with [the accused]. This is not about providing premises; it’s about engaging in this activity, which is punishable under administrative law. This does not mean that any of them provided premises and committed a criminal offense,” Velijanashvili stated.
Regarding the prosecution’s case, prosecutor Tea Giorgadze explained that the case includes covert recordings, dozens of witness testimonies, and other evidence that, according to her, confirms both the facilitation of prostitution and the provision of premises for this purpose.
Giorgadze further clarified that one of the detained individuals had been facilitating prostitution for years, while the others had been doing so for one year.
For reference, the 12 detained individuals have been charged under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 254 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which pertains to facilitating prostitution and providing premises for prostitution. This offense carries a penalty of up to 4 years of imprisonment.
Among the detained is singer Khatia Tsereteli.
The Tbilisi City Court is currently holding proceedings regarding the case of 12 individuals detained for facilitating prostitution and providing premises for prostitution
