We would like to inform you about the investigative activities implemented in the framework of ongoing investigation regarding the organization of the so-called “festival” by political organization Girchi.
On October 13, 2018, based on the announcements made by Girchi regarding the organization of the so-called Marijuana Festival, Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) has started an investigation according to the Criminal
Code of Georgia, article 273’ paragraphs 2 and 8, which imply unlawful purchase, possession and selling of cannabis or marijuana.
Moreover, after the announcement of the so-called festival, MIA made several statements to inform public about unlawful nature of the “festival” as well as set of actions punishable by the Georgian legislation (please see the following links:
MIA has also publicly addressed the organizers of the festival to refrain from popularization of narcotic substances and encouragement of unlawful activities, otherwise, measures prescribed by Georgian legislation would be applied against any person ( including representatives of Girchi or the candidate for the presidency) committing unlawful action.
Despite these statements by MIA, on October 20, 2018, representatives of Girchi and their supporters gathered in Dedaena park, a public space for the purpose of selling and consumption of marijuana. However, they failed to conduct so-called festival.
In the framework of the ongoing investigation, for the purpose of conducting investigative activities, namely search, police took 8 participants of the festival to police office. Police officers conducted a search on these persons and interviewed them. Afterwards, these people left the police office. During a search, small amount of marijuana was discovered in possession of 2 persons. Respective expertise will be conducted. Besides, 6 persons were arrested according to articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code of Georgia for public disorder and resistance to police.
As for Mr. Zurab Japaridze, in the framework of the ongoing investigation, respective investigative activities were conducted in his case. In particular, during the festival, Zurab Japaridze has allegedly disseminated marijuana among the participants of the festival. As Mr. Japaridze is the candidate for presidency, police asked him to participate in the investigative activities. For this purpose, Mr. Japaridze voluntarily followed police officers to the police office, where he was searched and interviewed and later left the police office. According to article 103 of the Elections Code of Georgia, State Prosecutors Office was informed about the search in order to inform the Central Elections Commission.
Fight against popularization, encouragement of consumption or realization of all kind of drugs including marijuana is one of the top priorities for MIA. Police will immediately prevent any similar attempt of consumption, popularization or selling of drugs in public space. The draft law initiated by MIA serves this very purpose. This draft law is currently under discussion in the Parliament of Georgia and implies strict legislative framework for consumption of marijuana.
