Russian protester arrested during demonstrations over Georgia's shift towards the EU is convicted for an alleged 8.5-year term, faced with accusations of drug possessions.
Russian Activist Anton Chechin Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison in Georgia
Anton Chechin, a Russian activist who has been supporting the opposition party of the late politician Aleksei Navalny and participating in anti-government protests in Tbilisi, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison on drug charges on Tuesday. Judge Jvebe Nachkebia presided over the sentencing.
Chechin, originally from Barnaul, a small city in Siberia, has been living in Georgia since relocating there. He met his wife, Manana Samkharadze, in the country and joined protests against the Georgian Dream government. His wife was present during the hearing and was emotional.
The charges against Chechin and several other protesters, including Nika Katsia, Anastasia Zinovkina, and Artem Gribul, have been perceived as politically motivated by critics. All three are Russian citizens and were detained in December. They, like Chechin, deny the charges and link their arrests to their participation in the protests.
Chechin and his lawyer, Giorgi Chkheidze, claim that the police planted drugs on him during his initial detention. In addition, Chechin alleges that he was slapped twice in the face with his own transportation card and struck on the back of the head during his detention. On 18 November 2024, plainclothes police officers took photos of Chechin and threatened him with a beating and arrest unless he deleted the photos.
Chechin has a health issue, specifically a cystic-fibrous formation in his brain, as indicated by his MRI results. A neurosurgeon has stated that he requires surgery. However, the court has not taken this into account in its sentencing.
Since 2017, Chechin has been assisting the party of the late opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. He has also been supported by the organization NeSTU (Network Switzerland - Transcarpathia/Ukraine) in Georgia and began working for this organization there in 2024.
Chechin's arrest occurred on 4 December 2024, a week after the ruling Georgian Dream party suspended the country's EU membership bid and subsequent protests began. 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.
Chechin has repeatedly been subjected to pressure, with police searching him several times a month. The defense questioned the credibility of a translator presented in the case as a neutral witness, arguing that she was brought in by law enforcement officials. The police did not present any video of Chechin's search and arrest.
The sentencing of Anton Chechin has sparked outrage among activists and human rights organizations, who view it as a politically motivated move aimed at suppressing dissent. The case is far from over, as several other protesters charged with drug offenses are still awaiting verdicts.
