Georgian doctor arrested during protests remains in custody

A Georgian doctor, Giorgi Akhobadze, who was arrested during anti-government protests against halted EU integration, remains in custody, Judge Mikheil Jinjolia ruled on Tuesday.

At his court hearing, Dr. Akhobadze addressed Prosecutor Shmagi Gobejishvili, questioning why the prosecution had not investigated his claim that a prohibited substance had been placed in his pocket.

The doctor was arrested on the night of December 8, while returning home from a demonstration. He was charged with the illegal manufacture, production, purchase, storage, transportation, or forwarding of a particularly large amount of a narcotic drug, its analogue, or precursor. If convicted, he could face a sentence of 8 to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.

Akhobadze claims the substance had been plated on him due to his social activism.