Russian Citizen Held in Custody in Georgia
A Tbilisi City Court judge has kept Russian citizen Anton Chechin in custody until February 7. He is charged with large-scale drug possession, which carries a sentence of eight years to life in prison.
Chechin claims he was framed by the police due to his activism and participation in pro-EU protests in Georgia. In a letter from prison, he wrote that he came to Georgia to support Ukrainian citizens and fight against the country’s occupation. After participating in rallies against “Russian laws”, an administrative case was opened against him.
Chechin’s defense argued that there were procedural violations during his arrest. They also questioned the impartiality of Shorena Tabatadze, a translator who witnessed the police search. The defendant’s lawyer noted that she works for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and that her testimony was almost identical to that of the investigator, raising questions about its credibility.
Chechin’s defense requested his release without pre-trial detention, proposing bail as an alternative. However, the judge rejected this request and kept him in custody, citing a risk of absconding if released on bail.
This is not the first time Chechin has been detained in Georgia. He was first arrested on November 18, 2024, for participating in pro-EU rallies in Tbilisi. Following his detention, he was allegedly threatened and told to stop taking part in the protests.
Chechin’s wife claims that her husband does not use drugs and that police officers planted evidence against him. The practice of planting drugs on people is widespread in Russia, according to Russian watchdogs.
Chechin has been an outspoken critic of the Russian government. He moved to Georgia from Russia after the start of the war in Ukraine and actively participated in anti-Putin protests. Two other Russian activists have also been arrested in connection with recent Georgian protests.
