The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reports that over the past week, 314 individuals underwent drug testing in Tbilisi and the regions, while 23 individuals refused to be tested. The MIA cites tightened legislation as the basis for drug testing.
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"The fact of narcotic drug use was established for 240 individuals, whose cases have been forwarded to the court according to their jurisdiction. Additionally, 23 individuals avoided narcological testing, and they will be fined just like drug users, as this is stipulated by the relevant legislative norm," the MIA stated.
The Ministry also declared that it is disinformation that police officers are only stopping participants of ongoing protests for narcological examination.
"Over the past few days, there has been an active false campaign claiming that law enforcement officers are only checking participants of protest rallies or representatives of specific political parties, which is another attempt to mislead the public. Police officers cannot distinguish or exclude an individual based on their political views from among those tested, and this, in turn, does not constitute an indulgence for anyone," the MIA noted.
On July 8-9, activists and members of opposition political parties reported that police officers stopped them for drug testing. Some of them refused the drug test.
"My two fellow fighters and I were being taken for narcological examination by the Russian regime, which we categorically refused. After that, we didn't even use the given 4-hour period to obtain independent expertise. Our answer is unequivocal: we will not obey the return of that dirty and humiliating practice to Georgia, which the Russian regime is trying to implement," said Oto Parulava, Deputy Secretary General of Lelo – Strong Georgia.
A police officer told civil activist Beka Papashvili that, according to operational information, he was under the influence of a narcotic substance. The test results did not confirm drug use for him.
Papashvili and other activists believe that the MIA is trying to intimidate protest participants and discredit the protests.
