Three individuals have been arrested on charges of trafficking minors, the Ministry of Internal Affairs says.
The Ministry states that evidence gathered during the investigation suggests the defendants developed a trafficking plan aimed at obtaining material benefit.
“They recruited their materially dependent minor children, who were forced to beg for alms and sell flowers in Batumi, tourist locations, and other areas,” the Ministry said.
The agency added that the money collected by the children was allegedly controlled by the defendants.
“In the course of the investigation, evidence obtained as a result of covert investigative activities conducted on the basis of a court ruling confirms the fact of the crime committed by the perpetrators,” the Ministry said.
Police said the minors have been transferred to state care centers, where their lives and health are no longer at risk.
The investigation is ongoing under parts 2 and 3 of Article 143 of the Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 17 years in prison.
