Georgia's Prosecutor General's Office says four more people have been charged in an alleged scheme that prepared false asylum claims and documents for Georgian citizens seeking asylum in the United States.

The investigation followed a joint operation with the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Office. Prosecutors announced the new charges on July 14, six weeks after a related operation in which three people were arrested and six others charged in an investigation involving allegedly fabricated asylum claims and visa documents for the United States and Canada.

Alleged false claims and documents

Prosecutors allege that the four defendants helped Georgian citizens remain abroad unlawfully by arranging false information for U.S. asylum applications and by producing and distributing forged official documents.

One suspect was detained on July 13, while two were charged in absentia. Prosecutors said those three face up to six years in prison. The fourth defendant faces a possible sentence of up to seven years.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, three Georgian citizens formed a group to prepare false narratives, described as “cases,” and supporting evidence for people seeking asylum in the United States in return for payment. The alleged narratives included claims of persecution linked to political views, sexual orientation, law-enforcement agencies and other grounds.

Documents linked to nearly 500 people

Investigators said searches at the home and office of one alleged group member found phones and computers containing forged material prepared in the names of nearly 500 citizens. The files reportedly included asylum case documents, forged official records and electronic seals attributed to various organizations.

Prosecutors estimate that between January 2025 and June 2026, the group received GEL 675,794, USD 388,526 and EUR 4,964 in alleged proceeds.

The office also said it has opened a case against another person accused of supplying forged documents to members of the group already under prosecution. That suspect has admitted guilt and is cooperating with the investigation, according to the statement.

The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty by a court.