The ruling Georgian Dream party has agreed to introduce mandatory treatment as a form of punishment under the country’s Criminal Code, but only in exceptional cases, the party’s Executive Secretary Mamuka Mdinaradze announced.
According to Mdinaradze, the decision on whether to impose mandatory treatment will rest with the court.
“This will not be an administrative penalty but a sentence prescribed under criminal law,” Mdinaradze explained. “If a person is convicted of a drug-related crime, in certain exceptional cases, the judge will have the discretion to impose mandatory treatment as part of the sentence.”
Mdinaradze noted that the court’s decision could be based on case materials and a forensic drug addiction assessment. He emphasized that such measures would aim to ensure both individual and general prevention of drug-related offenses.
“The Strasbourg Court precedent allows for this approach. If a person poses a danger to themselves or society and requires mandatory treatment, the judge has the authority to make that decision,” Mdinaradze said.
