Protester arrested during Georgia's Euro adoption reversal demonstrations receives 8.5-year sentence for alleged drug offenses.
Russian Activist Anton Chechin Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison
Anton Chechin, a Russian activist who has been a vocal critic of the government, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison on drug charges in a Georgian court on Tuesday. The sentencing was handed down by Judge Jvebe Nachkebia.
Chechin, who is originally from Barnaul, a small city in Siberia, has been a prominent figure in protests against various controversial laws and Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. He joined protests in Georgia after relocating there, and was detained on 4 December 2024, a week after the suspension of Georgia’s EU membership bid and the subsequent protests.
Before his detention, Chechin was repeatedly subjected to pressure, with police searching him several times a month. He and his lawyer, Giorgi Chkheidze, claim that the police planted drugs on him during his initial detention.
During the hearing, Chechin stated that his detention was political lawlessness and that the actions of the police were illegal. His wife, Manana Samkharadze, was present and reacted emotionally to the verdict.
The search results do not provide information about the name of Chechin's defense attorney who argued that the police planted drugs on him. The police did not present any video of Chechin's search and arrest, and authorities claimed that filming was not possible due to the detainee's resistance.
A neurosurgeon, who was questioned at the court hearing on August 6, stated that Chechin required surgery. Chechin has a health issue, specifically a cystic-fibrous formation in his brain, as indicated by his MRI results.
Tedo Abramov and Giorgi Akhobadze, who were also charged with drug-related offenses, are the only two protesters who have been acquitted and released by the court. The judges cited a lack of sufficient evidence as the reason for their acquittal.
Three other protesters charged with drug offences are still awaiting verdicts. Among them are Nika Katsia, Anastasia Zinovkina, and Artem Gribul. Zinovkina and Gribul, like Chechin, are Russian citizens. They also denied the charges and linked their arrests to their participation in the protests.
After the hearing, court bailiffs forcibly removed Chechin's supporters from the building. One supporter claimed to have been assaulted by the head of the bailiffs, Davit Matiashvili.
Since 2017, Chechin has been assisting the party of the late opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. He has taken part in numerous protest rallies, including demonstrations against the disputed law and the controversial foreign agents laws in Georgia.
The fate of these activists raises concerns about freedom of speech and political persecution in both Russia and Georgia. The cases are ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether justice will be served and the activists will be able to continue their work without fear of reprisal.
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