The Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia has arrested two individuals accused of illegal business activity, unauthorized tree felling, and violations of sawmill registration requirements. The investigation revealed that one of the suspects, between 2025 and 2026, illegally cut down 34 juniper trees and 13 coniferous trees on state forest land in Nakhsirghele village, Terjola municipality, without proper authorization. The harvested wood was transported to the area near the suspect’s residence.
The second suspect operated an unregistered mobile sawmill, processing the illegally cut wood into planks. Both individuals were apprehended on March 28, 2026, while committing the offense. Law enforcement authorities acted during the ongoing illegal activity, ensuring the suspects were caught in the act.
The investigation is being conducted under Article 192(1), Article 287¹(1), and Article 303(5) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which cover illegal business activity, unauthorized logging, and violations related to sawmill operations.
If convicted, the suspects face imprisonment ranging from 5 to 7 years under the applicable Georgian law provision
