For Georgia party posts hair follicle drug test of Ex-PM Gakharia: ‘no drug consumption revealed’

The For Georgia opposition party, which is run by ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia, has posted Gakharia’s hair follicle drug test made by FTC-Forensisch-Toxikologisches Labor in Austria, Vienna on September 14.

The party says that per the lab conclusion Gakharia consumes no drugs. 

Gakharia has been accused of cocaine consumption by the head of the ruling Georgian (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze many times ahead of the October 2 municipal elections, in which Gakharia is running for Tbilisi mayor. 

The accusations emerged after the GD candidate for Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze tested for drugs in early September and called on his opponents to do so. 

Gakharia refused to test for drugs in Tbilisi ‘to prevent a provocation’ against him and instead addressed the Venice lab. 

However, Kobakhidze still questioned the lab conclusion and Gakharia has released the conclusion of another lab.

Gakharia has submitted a complaint against Kobakhidze at the country’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office. 

Gakharia left premiership and the GD in February 2021 and has been demonised by the GD since then.