# Bodily harm in Georgia — Articles 117, 118, 120 Intentional bodily harm has three levels: minor (Article 120), less serious (Article 118) and serious (Article 117). The level is set by a forensic medical examination — and that decides which article and which penalty apply. - Confidential - Georgian · English · Russian - Free first consultation - Courts of all instances ## What is the penalty WhenPenaltyMinor harm — short-term damage to health (Art. 120)A fine, corrective labour for up to 6 months, house arrest from 6 months to 2 years, or imprisonment from 1 to 3 yearsMinor harm with aggravating circumstances — e.g. against a family member, as a group, out of hooligan motivesImprisonment from 3 to 5 yearsLess serious harm — long-term damage to health (Art. 118)Corrective labour for up to 18 months, house arrest from 6 months to 2 years, or imprisonment from 2 to 4 yearsLess serious harm with aggravating circumstancesImprisonment from 4 to 6 yearsSerious harm — dangerous to life, or loss of an organ or its function (Art. 117)Imprisonment from 4 to 7 yearsSerious harm causing deathImprisonment from 5 to 8 yearsSerious harm with aggravating circumstancesImprisonment from 9 to 13 years; if it caused death — 10 to 14 years Penalties follow the current text of the Criminal Code of Georgia. In a specific case the outcome depends on the circumstances, compensation of damage, a plea agreement and other factors. ## What matters for the defence - The forensic medical report — severity and cause of the injury; an alternative examination if needed - Self-defence — whether you were protecting yourself or someone else - Who started the conflict: video and witnesses - Whether the aggravating circumstance is well founded ## If you are accused or arrested - Use your right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer — from the first contact with the investigating authority - Don't sign any document you don't understand - You must be charged within 48 hours of arrest, and within the next 24 hours a court decides on a preventive measure - Decide on compensating the damage or settling with the victim together with your lawyer ## If you are a victim - Call 112 or go to the police or the prosecutor's office - Keep the evidence: photos, video, messages, receipts, witnesses' contacts - Ask for victim status — it gives you rights in the case, for example to be informed about its progress - You can claim compensation for the damage — a lawyer will help ## Questions & answers ### What do minor, less serious and serious harm mean? Minor harm causes short-term damage to health, less serious harm long-term damage, and serious harm is dangerous to life or causes, for example, the loss of an organ or its function. A forensic examination decides the level. ### I was defending myself — will I still be punished? Harm caused within the limits of necessary self-defence is not a crime. The key is that the defence was proportionate to the attack — a lawyer proves this with evidence. ### What should a victim of a beating do? See a doctor and go to the police straight away — recording the injuries and the forensic examination are decisive for the case. ## Legal basis - [Criminal Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/16426) - [Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/90034) Official texts (in Georgian) — Legislative Herald of Georgia, matsne.gov.ge. Related practice area: [Violent crimes](https://mmlaw.ge/en/violent-crime-lawyer/) ## Related topics - [#Criminal law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - [#Your rights](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/what-to-do-if-detained/) - - [Criminal defence lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - - [Cybercrime lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/cybercrime-lawyer/) - - [Juvenile lawyer in Georgia: legal help for minors](https://mmlaw.ge/en/juvenile-justice-lawyer/) - - [Detained in Georgia? Your rights and what to do](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/what-to-do-if-detained/) - - [Police search in Georgia: your rights and what to do](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/police-search-your-rights/) - - [Fraud charges in Georgia: penalties and your defence](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/fraud-charges-in-georgia/) - - [Theft charges in Georgia: penalties and your rights](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/theft-charges-in-georgia/) - - [Domestic violence charges in Georgia: what to know](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/domestic-violence-charges-georgia/) Criminal law ## Crimes and penalties - [Theft](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/theft-article-177/) — Article 177 Secretly taking someone else's property. Penalties range from a fine to 10 years, depending on the damage and circumstances. - [Robbery (open theft)](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/robbery-article-178/) — Article 178 Openly taking someone else's property. Penalties range from a fine to 11 years, depending on the damage, violence and other factors. - [Violent robbery](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/violent-robbery-article-179/) — Article 179 An attack to take property, with violence dangerous to life or health or the threat of it. Penalty: 5 to 15 years. - [Extortion](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/extortion-article-181/) — Article 181 Demanding money or property under threat of violence, damage or spreading compromising information. Up to 9 years. - [Embezzlement](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/embezzlement-article-182/) — Article 182 Unlawfully keeping or spending property or money you were entrusted with — often at work. Up to 11 years. - [Damage to property](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/property-damage-article-187/) — Article 187 Damaging or destroying someone else's property causing significant damage. Penalties from a fine to 12 years. - [Hooliganism](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/hooliganism-article-239/) — Article 239 A gross breach of public order with violence or the threat of violence. Penalties from a fine to 7 years. --- Source: https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/bodily-harm/ · MMLAW · +995 551 00 43 00 · info@mmlaw.ge