LA W OF GEORGIA
CRIMINAL CODE OF GEORGIA
[Only the articles relevant to this dossier have been reproduced here]
Article 7 β Gr ounds for criminal liability
1. The grounds for criminal liability shall be a crime, i.e. an unlawful and guilty act provided for
by this Code. The grounds for criminal liability of legal persons shall be determined by the
relevant provisions of this Code.
2. An act that, although formally containing the signs of an act provided for by this Code, has not
caused, due to its insignificance, such harm or has not created the risk of such harm that would
require criminal prosecution of its perpetrator shall not be deemed a crime.
Law of Geor gia No 3530 of 25 July 2006 β LHG I, No 37, 7.8.2006, Art. 271
Article 8 β Causation
1. If, under the relevant article of this Code, a crime is considered completed only when an act has
caused an unlawful result or created a specific threat of the occurrence of such result, it shall be
necessary to establish causation between this act and the result or threat.
2. Causation shall exist when an act constituted a necessary condition for the unlawful result or
specific threat provided for under the relevant article of this Code, without which the result or
such threat would not have occurred this time .
3. Omission shall be considered to be a necessary condition for the occurrence of an unlawful result
or a specific threat provided for under the relevant article of this Code, when a person had a
special legal obligation to act, was able to act and the result would have been avoided by taking
mandatory and possible action.
Article 12 β Categories of a crime
1. On the basis of the maximum term of imprisonment provided for as a punishment under an article or
part of an article of this Code, a crime shall be of the following three categories:
a) a less serious crime;
b) a serious crime;
c) a particularly serious crime.
2. An intentional crime or a crime of negligence for the commission of which the maximum sentence
provided for under this Code does not exceed 5 years of imprisonment shall constitute a less serious
crime.
3. An intentional crime for the commission of which the maximum sentence provided for under this
Code does not exceed 10 years of imprisonment, also a crime of negligence for the commission of
which the maximum sentence under this Code exceed 5 years of imprisonment shall constitute a serious
crime.
4. An intentional crime for the commission of which this Code provides for a sentence exceeding 10
years of imprisonment or life imprisonment shall constitute a particularly serious crime.
Law of Geor gia No 292 of 5 May 2000 β LHG I, No 18, 15.5.2000, Art. 45
Article 13 β Continuing crime
1. A crime provided for by one article or part of an article of this Code the commission of which
starts with an action or inaction and which then is committed continuously , shall constitute a
continuing crime.
2. A continuing crime shall be considered completed upon the termination of the act.
Article 15 β Repeated crime
1. Repeated crime shall mean the commission by a previously convicted person of the crime provided
for by the same article of this Code. T wo or more crimes provided for by dif ferent articles of
this Code shall be considered a repeated crime if so provided for by the relevant article of this
Code.
2. A crime shall not be considered as repeated if the person was released from criminal liability
for the previous crime in accordance with the law , or if this personβ s conviction for the
previously committed crime was cancelled or expunged.
3. (Deleted).
Law of Geor gia No 5196 of 4 July 2007 β LHG I, No 28, 18.7.2007, Art. 283
Article 16 β Cumulative crimes
1. Cumulative crimes shall mean commission of two or more acts provided for by an article or part of
an article of this Code for committing none of which the person has been convicted. Commission of an
act that contains elements of crimes provided for by two or more articles or part of an article of
this Code shall also constitute a cumulative crime.
2. If an act is provided for by general and special provisions, the cumulative crime does not exist
and the person shall be criminally liable according to the special provisions.
Law of Geor gia No 333 of 30 May 2000 β LHG I, No 20, 31.5.2000, Art. 51
Article 25 β Liability of the principal and accomplice
1. A principal and accomplice shall be criminally liable only according to their own guilt based on
the single unlawful act, taking into consideration the nature and extent of participation of each of
them in the commission of the crime.
2. Criminal liability of a joint principal shall be determined under the relevant article of this
Code, without making reference to this article.
3. Criminal liability of the or ganiser , abettor and aider shall be determined under the relevant
article of this Code, by making reference to this article, except when they , at the same time, are
joint principals of the crime.
4. When there is an element present in the personality of the principal or accomplice that is
characteristic of an unlawful act, then this element shall be attributed to another principal or
accomplice in whose person it was not present, if he/she was aware of this element.
5. Personal feature that is characteristic of guilt or personality of one of the principals or
accomplices shall be attributed to the principal or accomplice who is characterised by that feature.
6. For complicity in a crime in which the principal may be a special subject of the relevant crime
under this Code, the person shall be criminally liable as the or ganiser , abettor or aider .
7. If the principal has not completed the crime, the accomplice shall bear criminal liability for
complicity in the preparation of the crime or in the attempt. Criminal liability for the preparation
of a crime shall also be imposed on the person who, due to the circumstances beyond his/her control,
failed to persuade another person to commit the crime.
Article 27 β Crimes committed jointly by mor e than one person
1. A crime shall be considered to have been committed jointly by more than one person if two or more
principals jointly participated in its commission without prelim inary agreement.
2. A crime shall be considered to have been committed jointly by more than one person with prelimin
ary agreement if persons participating in its commission united in advance to jointly commit the
crime.
3. A crime shall be considered to have been committed by an or ganised group if it was committed by
a structured group formed and acting jointly within a specific period of time and members of which
have come together in advance to commit one or several crimes, or the purpose of which is to
unlawfully obtain direct or indirect financial or other material benefit.
4. In cases provided for by the relevant articles of this Code, criminal liability for setting up or
directing an or ganised group shall be imposed on the person who created or directed such a group.
Liability for all the crimes committed by this group shall be imposed on the same person if the
latter intended to commit those crimes. Other participants of an or ganised group shall bear
liability for the participation of the group in cases provided for by the relevant article of this
Code, as well as for the crime in the preparation or commission of which they participated.
Note: For the purposes of paragraph 3 of this article, a structured group shall be the group
that has not been casually set up for immediate commission of a crime and that does not require
formal distribution of roles among its members, or continuous membership or a developed structure.
Law of Geor gia No 3530 of 25 July 2006 β LHG I, No 37, 7.8.2006, Art. 271
Article 71 β Releasing fr om criminal liability due to expiration of the limitation period
1. A person shall be released from criminal liability if:
a) two years have passed after committing a crime for which the maximum sentence provided for under
the Special Part of this Code does not exceed a two-year term of imprisonment;
b) six years have passed after committing another less serious crime;
c) ten years have passed after committing a serious crime;
c1) fifteen years have passed after committing crimes provided for in Articles 332-3421 of this
Code, unless they constitute particularly seri ous crimes;
c2) twenty years have passed after committing crimes provided for in Articles 137-141 of this Code,
unless they constitute particularly seri ous crimes;
d) thirty years have passed after committing a particularly serious crime.
2. The limitation period shall be calculated starting from the day when the crime is committed up to
the day when formal char ges are brought against the person. If another crime is committed, the
limitation period shall be calculated for each individual crime.
3. The running of the limitation period shall be suspended if the of fender absconds during the
investigation or trial. In this case, the running of the limitation period shall be resumed from the
moment the of fender gets arrested or appears with the confession of guilt.
4. The court shall decide whether to apply the limitation period to a person sentenced to life
imprisonment. If the court considers it impossible to apply the limitation period, life imprisonment
shall be substituted by a fixed term imprisonment.
5. The limitation period shall not apply in the case provided for by an international agreement of
Geor gia.
51. The limitation period shall not apply in the case of committing crimes provided for by Articles
1441-1443 of this Code, as well as in the case of committing crimes provided for by Articles 137-141
and 253-2552 of this Code in respect of minors. The limitation period shall not apply in the case of
committing a crime determined by this Code, which is punished by life imprisonment and which has
resulted in death.
6. The limitation period shall be suspended for the period during which the person is protected by
immunity .
7. Except as provided for by paragraphs 3 and 6 of this article, the running of the limitation
period shall also be suspended during the time when it is impossible to carry out appropriate
procedural actions under Article 16(2) of the Law of Geor gia on International Cooperation in
Criminal Matters against a person extradited to Geor gia.
8. When criminal case materials and their duly certified copies are transmitted for their use in
subsequent legal proceedings in Geor gia according to Article 42 of the Law of Geor gia on
International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, the grounds provided for by the legislation of the
foreign country for suspending the limitation period shall be taken into consideration by the agency
in Geor gia responsible for the proceedings only if these grounds are similar to the grounds
provided for by this article for suspending the limitation period.
Law of Geor gia No 333 of 30 May 2000 β LHG I, No 20, 31.5.2000, Art. 51
Law of Geor gia No 3530 of 25 July 2006 β LHG I, No 37, 7.8.2006, Art. 271
La w o f Geo r gi a N o 361 9 o f 2 4 Septembe r 201 0 β LH G I , N o 51 , 29.9.2010 , Art . 33 2
Law of Geor gia No 59 of 1 December 2016 β website, 13.12.2016
Law of Georgia No 4224 of 27 December 2018 β website, 27.12.2018
Law of Geor gia No 5750 of 17 March 2020 β website, 23.3.2020
Law of Geor gia No 6753 of 13 July 2020 β website, 20.7.2020
Law of Georgia No 3887 of 30 November 2023 β website, 19.12.2023
Article 1071 β Gr ounds for criminal liability of a legal person
1. The regulations established under this Code shall apply to legal persons. For the purposes of
this Code, a legal person shall mean an entrepreneurial (commercial) or non-entrepreneurial
(non-commercial) legal person (his/her legal successor).
2. A legal person shall be criminally liable for a crime under this Code, which is committed on
behalf of or through and/or in favour of the legal person by a responsible person.
3. The responsible person specified in paragraph 2 of this article shall be a person responsible for
the management and representation of the legal person and for making decisions on behalf of the
legal person, and/or a member of the supervisory , monitoring or audit body of the legal person.
4. A legal person shall also be criminally liable when the crime has been committed on behalf of or
through and/or in favour of the legal person, regardless of whether or not the identity of a natural
person who committed the crime has been established.
41 . A lega l perso n shal l also b e criminall y liabl e if , du e t o th e imprope r performanc e
o f supervisio n an d monitorin g b y th e responsibl e perso n speci fie d i n paragrap h 3 o f thi
s article , a natura l perso n unde r th e subordinatio n o f th e lega l perso n wa s abl e t o
commi t th e crim e i n favou r o f th e lega l person .
5. Releasing the responsible person from criminal liability shall not serve as grounds for releasing
the legal person from criminal liability .
6. Criminal liability of a legal person shall not exclude the criminal liability of a natural person
with respect to the same crime.
7. Criminal liability shall not release the legal person from the obligation to indemnify the damage
that he/she has caused as a result of the crime, or from other penalties established against him/her
under the legislation.
8. If the circumstances excluding the guilt or unlawfulness of the actions of a legal person are
established, the legal person shall be released from criminal liability .
Law of Geor gia No 3530 of 25 July 2006 β LHG I, No 37, 7.8.2006, Art. 271
La w o f Geo r gi a N o 29 6 o f 2 6 Septembe r 200 8 β LH G I , N o 22 , 9.10.2008 , Art . 15 3
Article 142 β Violation of human equality
1. Violation of human equality on the grounds of language, sex, age, nationality, origin,
birthplace, place of residence, material or rank status, religion or belief, social belonging,
profession, marital status, health status, sexual orientation, political or other views or of any
other signs that have substantially breached human rights, β
shall be punished by a fine or corrective labour for up to one year and/or by imprisonment for up to
two years.
2. The same act:
a) committed by abusing the official position;
b) causing grave consequences, β
shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to three years, with or without deprivation of
the right to hold an office or to carry out activities for up to three years.
Note: for the act provided for by this article, a legal person shall be punished by liquidation or
deprivation of the right to carry out activities and/or by a fine.
Law of Georgia No 2393 of 2 May 2014 β website, 7.5.2014
Law of Geor gia No 431 of 2 April 2025 β website, 4.4.2025
Article 150 β Coercion
1. Illegal restriction of a personβs freedom to act, i.e. coercing him/her physically or mentally to
perform or not to perform an action, performance of or abstaining from performance of which is
his/her right, or to make him/her experience an influence against his/her own will, β
shall be punished by a fine, or corrective labour for a term of up to one year or house arrest for a
term of six months to two years, or imprisonment for a term of up to one year, with or without
restriction of the rights regarding weapons.
2. The same act committed:
a) knowingly by an offender against a minor, a person in a helpless condition, a person with
disability or a pregnant woman;
b) by a group of persons;
c) repeatedly, β
shall be punished by corrective labour for a term of up to two years, or imprisonment for a term of
up to eighteen months, with or without restriction of the rights regarding weapons.
Law of Georgia No 2458 of 20 June 2003 β LHG I, No 21, 15.7.2003, Art. 149
Law of Georgia No 763 of 4 May 2017 β website, 25.5.2017
Law of Georgia No 944 of 1 June 2017 β website, 20.6.2017
Law of Georgia No 2395 of 30 May 2018 β website, 8.6.2018
Article 151 β Threat
1. A threat of killing, damaging health or destroying property, when a person threatened has started
to have a reasonable sensation of fear that the threat will be carried out, β
shall be punished by a fine or community service for a term of 120 to 180 hours, or by corrective
labour for a term of up to one year or house arrest for a term of six months to two years, or by
imprisonment for a term of up to one year, with or without restriction of the rights regarding
weapons.
2. The same act committed:
a) by a group of persons;
b) repeatedly;
c) premeditatedly by a perpetrator against a pregnant woman, a person in a helpless condition, a
person with disabilities or a minor, β
d) against a family member, β
shall be punished by a fine or community service for a term of 170 to 200 hours, or by corrective
labour for a term of up to two years and/or imprisonment for a term of up to three years, with or
without restriction of the rights regarding weapons.
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 763 of 4 May 2017 β website, 25.5.2017
Law of Georgia No 944 of 1 June 2017 β website, 20.6.2017
Law of Georgia No 2395 of 30 May 2018 β website, 8.6.2018
Law of Geor gia No 5027 of 20 September 2019 β website, 01.10.2019
Article 177 β Theft
1. Theft, i.e. secretly taking another personβs movable property for its unlawful appropriation, β
shall be punished by a fine or house arrest for a term of six months to one year, or by imprisonment
for a term of one to three years.
2. The same act:
a) which has resulted in considerable damage;
b) committed by illegally entering the premises or any other storage facility, β
shall be punished by house arrest for a term of one to two years or by imprisonment for a term of
three to five years.
3. The same act committed:
a) with a preliminary agreement by a group;
b) repeatedly;
c) by illegal entry into a dwelling place;
d) against a vehicle, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of four to seven years.
4. The same act committed:
a) by an organised group;
b) in large quantities;
c) by a person who has two or more previous convictions for unlawful appropriation or extortion of
another personβs property;
d) with respect to the oil or gas flowing in the main pipeline, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of six to ten years.
Note:
1. Under this Chapter, βlarge quantitiesβ shall mean property (propert ies ) worth more than GEL 10000.
2. A crime provided for by Articles 177-186 of this Code shall be deemed as having been committed
repeatedly if it has been preceded by any of the crimes provided for by these articles and Articles
224, 231, 237, 264 and 2681 of this Code.
3. Under this Chapter of the Code, a considerable damage shall mean the value of a property
(properties) worth more than GEL 150.
Law of Georgia No 292 of 5 May 2000 β LHG I, No 18, 15.5.2000, Art. 45
Law of Georgia No 333 of 30 May 2000 β LHG I, No 20, 31.5.2000, Art. 51
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 4213 of 29 December 2006 β LHG I, No 1, 3.1.2007, Art. 16
Law of Georgia No 944 of 1 June 2017 β website, 20.6.2017
Law of Georgia No 460 of 27 April 2021 β website, 4.5.2021
Article 187 β Damage or destruction of property
1. Damaging or destroying another personβs property which has resulted in substantial damage, β
shall be punished by a fine, community service from 100 to 180 hours, by corrective labour for up to
one year, house arrest for a term of six months to two years, or by imprisonment for a term of one
to five years.
2. The same act committed:
a) by setting fire, explosion or using any other universally dangerous means;
b) repeatedly;
c) by a group of persons, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of three to six years, with or without restriction of
the rights regarding weapons.
3. The act provided for in paragraph 2 of this article, which has caused human death by negligence
or other grave consequences, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of six to ten years, with or without restriction of the
rights regarding weapons.
4. The act provided for in paragraph 2 of this article, which has caused death by negligence of two
or more persons, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of nine to twelve years, with or without restriction of
the rights regarding weapons.
Law of Georgia No 458 of 30 June 2000 β LHG I, No 27, 17.7.2000, Art. 83
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 944 of 1 June 2017 β website, 20.6.2017
Law of Georgia No 2395 of 30 May 2018 β website, 8.6.2018
Law of Georgia No 3772 of 30 November 2018 β website, 14.12.2018
Law of Georgia No 3446 of 30 June 2023 β website, 18.7.2023
Article 284 β Unauthorised access to a computer system
1. Unauthorised access to a computer system, β
shall be punished by a fine or corrective labour for up to two years, or by imprisonment for the
same term.
2. The same act:
a) committed by a group of persons with preliminary agreement;
b) committed using an official position;
c) committed repeatedly;
d) that has resulted in substantial damage, β
shall be punished by a fine or corrective labour for up to two years, or by imprisonment for a term
of two to five years.
3. The act provided for by paragraphs 1 and/or 2 of this article, committed against a critical
information system subject, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of three to six years.
Note:
1. A computer system is any equipment/mechanism or a group of inter-connected equipment/mechanisms
that automatically processes data (including personal computers, any equipment with a
microprocessor, or a mobile phone) by means of software.
2. Computer data are any information displayed in any form that can be processed in the computer
system, including software that ensures the operation of the computer system.
3. Unauthorised shall mean illegal, also those cases when the holder of the right has not, directly
or indirectly, transferred the right to the person committing the act.
4. For the purposes of this Chapter, βsubstantial damageβ shall be considered damage exceeding GEL 2
000, except in cases provided for by Article 2861 of this Code.
5. A crime provided for by this Chapter shall be deemed as having been committed repeatedly if it
has been preceded by any of the crimes provided for by this Chapter.
6. A critical information system subject shall be a critical information system subject as provided
for by the Law of Georgia on Information Security.
7. For the act provided for by this article, a legal person shall be punished by a fine, with
deprivation of the right to carry out activities, or by liquidation and a fine.
Law of Georgia No 292 of 5 May 2000 β LHG I, No 18, 15.5.2000, Art. 45
Law of Georgia No 458 of 30 June 2000 β LHG I, No 27, 17.7.2000, Art. 83
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 5940 of 19 March 2008 β LHG I, No 8, 28.3.2008, Art. 47
Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 β LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332
Law of Georgia No 460 of 27 April 2021 β website, 4.5.2021
Article 286 β Interference with computer data and/or computer systems
1. Unauthorised damage, deletion, modification or concealment of computer data, β
shall be punished by a fine or corrective labour for up to two years and/or by imprisonment for the
same term.
2. The act provided for by paragraph 1 of this article, and unauthorised insertion or transfer of
computer data that has resulted in considerable and intentional disruption of the operation of a
computer system, β
shall be punished by a fine or corrective labour for up to two years and/or by imprisonment for up
to three years.
3. The act provided for by paragraph 1 or 2 of this article:
a) committed by a group of persons with preliminary agreement;
b) committed using an official position;
c) committed repeatedly;
d) that has resulted in substantial damage, β
shall be punished by a fine or corrective labour for up to two years, or by imprisonment for a term
of three to five years.
4. The act provided for by paragraphs 1 and/or 2 of this article, committed against a critical
information system subject, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of four to seven years.
Note: For committing an act provided for by this article, a legal person shall be punished by a
fine, with deprivation of the right to carry out activities, or by liquidation and a fine.
Law of Georgia No 458 of 30 June 2000 β LHG I, No 27, 17.7.2000, Art. 83
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 β LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332
Law of Georgia No 460 of 27 April 2021 β website, 4.5.2021
Article 341 β Forgery by an official
Forgery by an official, i.e. entry of false information or record in official documents or registry,
or preparation or issuance of a forged document or forgery of the official or private documents
enclosed to the case file of an enterprise, establishment or organisation by an official or a person
equal thereto for mercenary purposes or with other personal motives, β
shall be punished by a fine or house arrest for a term of six months to two years, or by
imprisonment for a term of two to four years.
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 944 of 1 June 2017 β website, 20.6.2017
Article 360 β Arrogation
1. Arrogation, i.e. the exercise of oneβs actual or supposed right in violation of the legally
established order, which has resulted in substantial damage, β
shall be punished by a fine or community service from one hundred and eighty to two hundred hours or
by corrective labour from one to two years or by imprisonment for up to one year.
2. The same act committed using violence or threat of violence, β
shall be punished by house arrest for a term of six months to two years or imprisonment for a term
of two to four years.
Law of Georgia No 458 of 30 June 2000 β LHG I, No 27, 17.7.2000, Art. 83
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 944 of 1 June 2017 β website, 20.6.2017
Article 362 β Making, sale or use of a forged document, seal, stamp or blank forms
1. Making, purchase, storage for sale or use, sale or use of forged identity cards or other official
documents, β
shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to three years.
11. Forging data/information, and own signatures and the signatures of supporters, in relevant forms
of the lists of supporters provided for by the Organic Law of Georgia β the Election Code of
Georgia, own, as well as the signature of the supporter, β
shall be punished by a fine.
2. The act under paragraph 1 or paragraph 11 of this article:
a) committed repeatedly;
b) that has resulted in substantial damage, β
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of three to six years.
Note:
1. This article shall not apply to a person who committed the above act before acquiring the status
of a victim of human trafficking due to him/her being a victim of human trafficking.
2. For the act specified in this article a legal person shall be punished by a fine, with
deprivation of the right to carry out activities, or by liquidation and a fine.
3. For committing an act provided for by this article (except for the act related to the sale of
forged official documents, seals, stamps or blank forms), criminal liability shall not be applied to
an alien or a stateless person who has entered Georgia directly from the territory where he/she was
under a threat provided for by Articles 15(1), 19(1), 38(3), or 22(1) of the Law of Georgia on
International Protection, if he/she immediately, at the first opportunity, appeared before a state
authority, presented a proper explanation of his/her illegal entry into Georgia, and requested
international protection under the said Law, unless his/her act contains elements of another crime.
4. If it is determined by the relevant final decision on international protection that a foreigner
or a stateless person is not in need of international protection, the release from criminal
liability provided for by paragraph 3 of this Note shall not apply.
Law of Georgia No 458 of 30 June 2000 β LHG I, No 27, 17.7.2000, Art. 83
Law of Georgia No 2046 of 10 November 2005 β LHG I, No 48, 29.11.2005, Art. 322
Law of Georgia No 2937 of 28 April 2006 β LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 90
Law of Georgia No 3309 of 20 June 2006 β LHG I, No 25, 13.7.2006, Art. 196
Law of Georgia No 3446 of 16 July 2010 β LHG I, No 44, 28.7.2010, Art. 274
Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 β LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332
Law of Georgia No 4060 of 17 July 2015 β website, 29.7.2015
Law of Georgia No 944 of 1 June 2017 β website, 20.6.2017
Law of Georgia No 6726 of 2 July 2020 β website, 3 .7.2020
Law of Georgia No 4137 of 18 April 2024 β website, 2.5.2024
Law of Geor gia No 876 of 26 June 2025 β website, 7.7.2025