**Georgian Police Round Up Activists for Drug Testing Amid Escalating Crackdown**
In a series of incidents on July 8, several activists, including members of the opposition Lelo party, were taken in by police for drug testing in Tbilisi. The move comes as part of the Georgian Dream government’s intensifying anti-drug campaign.
Among those targeted was Beka Papashvili, an activist who was reportedly escorted from his girlfriend’s residential block and told he would be tested for drugs. He was released after three hours with a negative result, according to his girlfriend on Facebook.
Similar incidents were reported by opposition Lelo party members Irakli Kupradze, Otto Parulava, Levan Jorbenadze, and Beka Beridzishvili, who claimed police “ambushed” them separately across different parts of the city. When asked to take a drug test, they refused in protest against what they called a “dirty and disgraceful practice.”
**Tougher Anti-Drug Measures**
The incidents follow a series of tougher anti-drug measures introduced by the Georgian Dream government in recent weeks. In June, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze pledged an “uncompromising” fight against narcotics, vowing to crack down on those who poison citizens and use foreign funding for pro-drug campaigns.
The government has also rushed through legislative changes that criminalize the purchase and possession of more than five grams of marijuana. Private entities are now prohibited from providing opioid replacement therapy, and the import and wholesale of psychotropic substances have been banned.
**Draconian Measures Spark Concerns**
Human rights experts have expressed concerns over the draconian measures, which they say risk infringing on citizens’ freedoms. The Interior Ministry’s recent intensification of drug-related arrests has also sparked worries about police abuse of power.
“It is essential to distinguish between genuine efforts to combat narcotics and the erosion of human rights,” said a spokesperson for a local human rights organization. “The government must ensure that its anti-drug policies do not compromise citizens’ fundamental freedoms.”
**A Closer Look at the Controversy**
As the Georgian Dream government tightens its grip on drug-related offenses, it is clear that the measures are aimed at silencing dissenting voices and stifling opposition. The targeting of activists and protesters for drug testing raises serious concerns about police tactics and the potential for abuse.
The case of several protesters currently in pretrial detention, who face charges of having drugs planted on them by police, has further muddied the waters. Their defense claims that they were framed, and their imprisonment could serve as a warning to others not to speak out against the government.
As tensions between the government and opposition continue to escalate, one thing is clear: the Georgian Dream’s anti-drug crackdown has become a vehicle for suppressing dissent and maintaining power.
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