Eight Convicted Over Torture, Hate-Motivated Violence and Robbery
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, July 16, 2026
The Tbilisi City Court has convicted eight people, including five minors, of torture, organizing and taking part in violent group attacks motivated by intolerance and group robbery, following a case brought by Georgia's Prosecutor's Office.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, the court sentenced two adult defendants to 14 years in prison each, while the third defendant received an eight-year sentence. The five juveniles were given reduced sentences under Georgia's Juvenile Justice Code, receiving prison terms of 10 years and six months, two sentences of nine years and four months, six years, and five years and four months.
Prosecutors said the evidence presented during the trial showed that the defendants belonged to a group that promoted what authorities described as a "fascist-Nazi" ideology. Investigators said the group targeted people they considered to have an unacceptable lifestyle, including minors, and both organized and participated in the attacks.
"In particular, in order to identify and punish people with different views, the members of the aforementioned group, under the motive of intolerance, attacked, humiliated, physically and psychologically abused and tortured pre-selected victims in an organized and group manner," the Prosecutor's Office said.
Authorities said the group recorded many of the assaults and shared the videos on social media platforms and in closed online groups. In several cases, victims were also robbed of their personal belongings.
The court found the defendants guilty of multiple offenses under Georgia's Criminal Code, including torture committed by an organized group, organizing and participating in violent group actions, and robbery.
"The court sentenced two adult defendants to 14 years in prison each, and one to eight years in prison. The sentences imposed on the juvenile defendants were reduced based on the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Code," the Prosecutor's Office said. "Ultimately, one juvenile was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison, two juveniles to nine years and four months, one juvenile to six years, and one juvenile to five years and four months in prison."
