Allegation of Forced Marriage: Protection of Minors and Scope of the Law

On 9 October 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the arrest of one person on charges of forced marriage. According to information released by Imedi, the case concerns alleged pressure on a minor family member in Marneuli. The investigation is being conducted under Articles 11¹ and 150¹ of the Criminal Code. Arrest does not imply proof of guilt; the publication of the minor's identity and details facilitating their identification is not necessary for this legal explanation.

What Forced Marriage Means

Article 150¹ of the Criminal Code prohibits forced marriage, including in cases of unregistered marriage. Therefore, the absence of a marriage certificate does not, in itself, preclude the application of this norm. The main question is whether a specific action coercively restricted a person's free choice.

The first part of the current text provides for community service or imprisonment for up to two years. For an act committed against a minor with prior knowledge or for repeated acts, the second part stipulates imprisonment for two to four years. This is a sanction provided by law, not a sentence already imposed. Article 11¹, referenced for relations between family members, concerns the legal framework of domestic crime; it does not replace the need to prove the fact of coercion.

Consent and Marriageable Age are Different Requirements

According to Article 1107 of the Civil Code, marriage requires marriageable age and the consent of the persons to be married. Under Article 1108, marriage is permitted from the age of 18. Adulthood does not legalise coercion, and a minor's alleged consent cannot override the requirement of marriageable age. Family wishes or appeals to tradition cannot replace a person's free will.

What Needs to be Established in This Case

Public information cannot assess the child's interview material, the form of pressure, the knowledge of the participants, or the defence's position. The investigation must establish specific actions and prior knowledge of the minor's age. The court must evaluate evidence obtained in due course. According to Article 31, Paragraph 5 of the Constitution, a person is presumed innocent until a legally binding guilty verdict is rendered.

Child Safety and International Obligation

The Istanbul Convention has been in force for Georgia since 1 September 2017. Its Article 37 obliges states to criminalise the intentional coercion of an adult or a child into marriage. This is a requirement of a binding treaty for Georgia; it does not imply the conviction of a specific accused person. In this article, the Convention's monitoring mechanism is not considered a court reviewing individual cases.

In case of immediate danger, emergency assistance should be requested by calling 112. For more information on protective measures, see Domestic Violence, Restraining and Protective Orders. Instead of sharing a child's data in a public post, information about the case should be provided to the authorised body or a lawyer in the appropriate manner.

What Can Be Concluded Now

The announcement indicates an investigation and an arrest. It does not establish final responsibility. At this stage, the current framework for consent and the protection of minors can be explained. The temporal application of criminal law in a specific case should be assessed according to the date of the act, under Articles 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code.

Legislation checked as of 9 October 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only, is based on the public sources cited, and does not constitute individual legal advice.