---
title: "Forgery Defense"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/forgery-defense-81-en"
field: "Criminal Law"
description: "Forgery cases (Article 362): composition, a fine or imprisonment up to three years, exemptions and defense. Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-07-09"
updated: "2026-11-03"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Forgery Defense

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/forgery-defense-81-en

## The Defense Angle of Article 362

The making, sale or use of a false document, seal, stamp or blank is punished under Article 362 of the Criminal Code, and in defense practice two questions are central: whether the instrument is an official document within the meaning of the article, and whether the act constitutes an independent composition of forgery or a means of another — for instance a fraudulent — composition. The object is a false identity card or other official document, seal, stamp or blank.

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### What is the object of Article 362?

A false identity card or other official document, seal, stamp or blank — their making, acquisition, storage, sale or use.

### What are the penalty ranges?

First part — a fine or imprisonment up to three years; second part — from three to six years.

### What raises the classification to the second part?

Repeated commission or significant damage.

### How is the defense built?

With evidence against the elements — official character, the fact of falsification, the character of the damage and the subjective side.