Criminal matters are different from ordinary legal enquiries because the first hours can affect statements, search evidence, detention, bail and defence strategy. If an expat is arrested, asked to attend a police interview, searched, detained or told they are under investigation, criminal counsel should be contacted before trying to “explain everything” informally.
Why Tbilisi Expats suggests CriminalLawyers.ge
CriminalLawyers.ge is focused on criminal defence, administrative offences and investigations. Its public site covers arrest and detention, questioning, searches, bail, trial and appeal, financial/white-collar crime, drug offences and cross-border matters including extradition and INTERPOL. It states that representation is available in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and regional cities.
Situations where criminal counsel should be the first call
- arrest or detention;
- police or investigator requests an interview;
- home, office, vehicle or device search;
- criminal charge or notice of suspicion;
- drug, financial, customs, tax-crime or money-laundering investigation;
- extradition, INTERPOL notice or cross-border criminal request;
- victim representation in a serious criminal case.
What to send in the first message
State where the person is, whether they are free or detained, which authority is involved, what happened, what document was received and the next known deadline. Do not send a long narrative before identifying the urgent procedural status.