# Official forgery in Georgia — Article 341

Official forgery is an official, or a person treated as one, entering false information in an official document or register, drawing up or issuing a false document, or falsifying a document in an organisation's file — for gain or another personal motive (Article 341).

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## Possible penalties

WhenPenaltyOfficial forgeryA fine, house arrest from 6 months to 2 years, or imprisonment from 2 to 4 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

- Whether the entry was really false — or a mistake

- Whether there was gain or another personal motive — without it there is no crime

- Who made the entry and on whose instructions

- Handwriting and document examination

## 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

## Questions & answers

### I made a mistake in a document — is that forgery?

No. Official forgery requires a false entry made knowingly, for gain or another personal motive.

### Does it apply only to public officials?

It applies to officials and persons treated as such, including some employees of public legal entities.

### What is the penalty?

A fine, house arrest or 2 to 4 years in prison.

## 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/)

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

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

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

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

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- [Bribe-giving — Article 339](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/bribe-giving-article-339/)

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

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

-
- [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.

- [Bribe-giving](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/bribe-giving-article-339/) — Article 339 Offering or giving money or a benefit to an official. From a fine to 8 years; a voluntary report releases from liability.

- [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.

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Source: https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/official-forgery-article-341/ · MMLAW · +995 551 00 43 00 · info@mmlaw.ge