# Bribe-giving in Georgia — Article 339: penalties

Bribe-giving is promising, offering or giving money, property or another undue advantage to an official, or a person treated as one, so that they act in someone's favour in their duties (Article 339). The law punishes not only giving — an offer is enough.

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## Possible penalties

WhenPenaltyBasic offenceA fine, corrective labour up to 2 years, house arrest from 6 months to 2 years, or up to 3 years in prisonTo get an unlawful act doneA fine or imprisonment from 4 to 7 yearsBy an organised groupImprisonment from 5 to 8 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

- A voluntary report — releases from liability

- Whether the offer was really linked to an official act

- Signs of extortion or entrapment

- Lawfulness of covert recordings

## 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 someone asks you for a bribe

- Don't pay, and keep the evidence — messages, recordings, witnesses

- Report it to the prosecutor's office or the police

- A bribe-giver is released from liability if they voluntarily report it to the investigating authority

- Talk to a lawyer before you act

## Questions & answers

### I was asked for a bribe and paid — what now?

By law, a bribe-giver is released from criminal liability if they voluntarily report it to the investigating authority. Assess the situation with a lawyer before making the report.

### I only offered it — is that a crime too?

Yes. Article 339 punishes promising, offering and giving.

### What is the penalty for giving a bribe?

For the basic offence — from a fine up to 3 years in prison; to get an unlawful act done — 4 to 7 years; by an organised group — 5 to 8 years.

## 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: [Corruption and official crimes](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corruption-crime-lawyer/)

## Related topics

- [#Criminal law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/)

- [#Public authorities](https://mmlaw.ge/en/administrative-law-lawyer/)

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- [Drunk driving in Georgia: fines, licence, prison](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/drunk-driving-in-georgia/)

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- [Corruption crime lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corruption-crime-lawyer/)

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- [Abuse of office and exceeding authority](https://mmlaw.ge/en/abuse-of-office-lawyer/)

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- [Bribe-taking — Article 338](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/bribe-taking-article-338/)

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- [Trading in influence — Article 339¹](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/trading-in-influence-article-339-1/)

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- [Accepting a prohibited gift — Article 340](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/prohibited-gift-article-340/)

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- [Official forgery — Article 341](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/official-forgery-article-341/)

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- [Criminal defence lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/)

Criminal law

## Crimes and penalties

- [Bribe-taking](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/bribe-taking-article-338/) — Article 338 An official taking or demanding money or another benefit for an official act. Penalty: 6 to 15 years.

- [Trading in influence](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/trading-in-influence-article-339-1/) — Article 339¹ Selling or buying 'connections' — promising, for money, to influence an official's decision. Up to 7 years.

- [Accepting a prohibited gift](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/prohibited-gift-article-340/) — Article 340 An official accepting a gift the law prohibits. From a fine to 4 years in prison.

- [Official forgery](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/official-forgery-article-341/) — Article 341 An official making a false entry in an official document or issuing a false document. From a fine to 4 years.

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Source: https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/bribe-giving-article-339/ · MMLAW · +995 551 00 43 00 · info@mmlaw.ge