Overview
- Hayut, 35, was released from a Kutaisi prison after roughly two months in custody following his Sept. 15 arrest at Batumi Airport on an Interpol red notice requested by Germany.
- Defense lawyers said the deal closes the German file, results in a one-year suspended sentence, and cancels both local and European arrest warrants.
- German authorities have not explained the withdrawal, while Hayut’s Georgian lawyer attributed it to a lack of evidence.
- Alleged victim Pernilla Sjoholm called the outcome disappointing yet noted a plea means a conviction, as other legal efforts continue in separate jurisdictions.
- Hayut, known from Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler and accused of posing as ‘Simon Leviev’ to defraud women across Europe, has publicly denied the allegations.