---
title: "Illegal Capital Movement"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/illegal-capital-movement-en"
field: "Criminal Law"
description: "Defense against money laundering and illegal capital movement charges in Georgia. Expert financial crime lawyers on Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-07-09"
updated: "2026-11-07"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Illegal Capital Movement

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/illegal-capital-movement-en

Illegal capital movement and circulation (often referred to as illicit financial flows) represent a category of financial crimes involving concealing the illicit origin of funds, illegal transfers abroad, and bypassing financial monitoring systems. In the modern banking and financial system, transactions are under strict control to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing. Allegations in this category can be levied against major financial institutions, private companies, and individuals whose financial operations are deemed suspicious by the Financial Monitoring Service or the Prosecutor's Office. This is a particularly complex legal field where banking regulations, criminal law, and international financial standards intersect.

## What Does Illegal Capital Movement Service Cover?

Specialists on Legal.ge offer high-quality legal assistance in the field of financial crimes. The service includes:

-   **Money Laundering Defense:** Full defense during investigation and trial for offenses under Article 194 of the Criminal Code (Legalization of Illicit Income).
-   **Unfreezing Bank Accounts:** Releasing assets frozen by the Financial Monitoring Service or court orders and proving the legitimacy of transactions.
-   **Compliance and Risk Management:** Developing internal policies for companies to avoid "suspicious transaction" status and sanctions from financial monitoring bodies.
-   **Legalization of International Transfers:** Justifying the origin of large funds received from abroad or intended for transfer with banks and regulators.
-   **Corporate Investigations:** Conducting internal audits to detect and prevent financial irregularities.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/crim-criminal-law-en/illegal-capital-movement-en

### Why did the bank freeze my transfer?

Banks freeze transfers that trigger anti-money laundering (AML) alerts. You must provide documents proving the source of funds to release the hold.

### What counts as money laundering in Georgia?

Legalizing illicit income implies giving a lawful appearance to funds obtained through criminal activity (e.g., fraud, tax evasion).

### Can a company account be seized without notice?

Yes, if there is a court order or immediate suspicion of money laundering, accounts can be frozen temporarily without prior notice to prevent asset flight.

### Do I need a lawyer for bank compliance questions?

Yes, especially for large transactions. A lawyer can structure your documentation to meet compliance standards and prevent freezing.