Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office to appeal acquittal of pro-European doctor accused of drug possession

The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office announced plans to appeal a Tbilisi City Court ruling that acquitted Dr. Giorgi Akhobadze of all charges related to the illegal possession of narcotics. Akhobadze, a vocal supporter of Georgia’s pro-European movement, was arrested in December 2024 during a demonstration against the government’s decision to suspend EU integration efforts.

According to a statement released on Wednesday, law enforcement officers detained Akhobadze on December 8, 2024. He was charged with the illegal acquisition and storage of an especially large quantity of the synthetic drug α-PVP (alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone), with police claiming they had discovered 3.73 grams of the substance in his possession. The charge carried a potential sentence of 8 to 20 years in prison, or life.

The court, however, found the evidence presented by prosecutors insufficient to support the charge. Judge Romeo Tkeshelashvili ruled in favor of the defense and declared Akhobadze not guilty, ordering his immediate release from pre-trial detention.

Despite the acquittal, the Prosecutor’s Office said it would appeal the verdict once the court’s written ruling is issued. The statement emphasized that the evidence had been thoroughly examined during the trial and claimed the initial investigation had clearly established the offense.

Akhobadze's arrest and prosecution sparked controversy from the outset, with many rights groups and opposition figures denouncing the case as politically motivated. The doctor, who was returning home from a pro-EU protest on Rustaveli Avenue at the time of his arrest, alleged in court that the drugs were planted in retaliation for his public activism.

“This case is the revenge of a cowardly, frightened regime against me,” he said in his final court statement on July 25. “They couldn’t silence me with threats or smear campaigns, so they turned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ signature tactic: planting evidence.”

Supporters welcomed Akhobadze with applause and chants of “Victory until the end!” as he walked free from the courthouse.

Speaking to reporters, Akhobadze thanked the media for their coverage and vowed to continue his fight for democracy and justice in Georgia.