No drug traces found in hair sample of pro-European activist Nika Kacia, expert testifies

An expert from the Samkharauli Forensic Bureau testified on Tuesday at Tbilisi City Court that no traces of drugs were found in the hair sample taken from pro-European activist Nika Katsia.

Maia Kutgashvili, who conducted the analysis, said the examination was carried out according to UN standards. She explained that hair retains drug substances for the longest period - from several months up to a year - and if Katsia had used narcotics, the test would have detected it.

When asked by the prosecutor whether the hair growth rate was taken into account, Kutgashvili confirmed that human hair grows approximately one centimetre per month. As a chemist, she asserted with certainty that no narcotic substances were found in the hair sample she analysed.

Katsia faces charges of large-scale drug possession and trafficking, punishable by 8 to 20 years in prison. The charge against him is under the same article as was applied in the case of another activist Giorgi Akhobadze, who was recently released.

Katsia, who was involved in pro-European protests, maintains his innocence and claims the drugs were planted on him.