Transnational crime suspect extradited from Argentina to Georgia following request by the General Prosecutor’s Office

“Following a motion submitted by the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, Giorgi Khatiashvili, a suspect charged with transnational organised crime, was extradited from the Republic of Argentina to Georgia on 14 October,” reads official information released by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.

According to the agency, the extradited individual is accused of facilitating the illegal stay of Georgian citizens in a foreign state as part of an organised criminal syndicate, organising and assisting the submission of fraudulent information to secure asylum abroad, and manufacturing and distributing forged official documents. Nine other individuals have also been indicted in connection with the criminal case.

“As a result of a joint operation conducted by the Prosecution Service of Georgia and the Regional Security Office of the United States Embassy, organised criminal networks were uncovered, establishing that tightened United States immigration policies had made border crossings increasingly difficult. For financial gain, Giorgi Khatiashvili, alongside co-defendants, formed an organised criminal group aimed at manufacturing fabricated histories, so-called ‘asylum cases’, and accompanying forged evidence for Georgian citizens seeking asylum in the United States.

Members of the criminal network convinced Georgian citizens that using these fabricated documents and fictitious backstories would allow them to secure asylum in the United States without difficulty. Group members drafted non-existent accounts detailing alleged persecution of Georgian citizens in Georgia on various grounds, including political opinions, sexual orientation, law enforcement harassment, and other claims. To substantiate these accounts, the syndicate produced forged official documentation.

Investigators identified more than 1,000 individuals who used the criminal group’s services between 2023 and 2026, which generated approximately 600,000 GEL, 2,250,000 USD, and 12,500 EUR in illicit proceeds.

Another individual wanted in connection with the case has already been extradited from Germany following effective international legal cooperation conducted by the Prosecution Service of Georgia.

Argentina’s competent authorities fully granted Georgia’s extradition request, marking the first time an individual has been extradited from outside Europe and the immediate region. We thank the Ministry of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service for executing the necessary procedures.

It should be noted that the Prosecution Service of Georgia actively collaborated with foreign partners throughout this case, with particular recognition due to the active involvement of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Regional Security Office of the US Embassy in Tbilisi,” the Prosecution Service statement read.