Prepared by Messenger Staff
Interior Ministry Rejects Allegations of Police Intimidation and Abuse in Drug Case
Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has categorically rejected allegations by detained Nodar Chachua that law enforcement officers intimidated, threatened and physically abused him and his family, maintaining that all investigative actions were conducted in full compliance with the law.
According to the ministry, Chachua and his wife, Lali Beria, were stopped near their Tbilisi residence on October 1. Beria allegedly told officers that drugs were stored in their apartment on Gamrekeli Street and voluntarily showed them their location.
Police seized cocaine, methadone, MDMA, alpha-PVP and ketamine, along with materials allegedly used for drug packaging. The ministry also cited covert recordings authorised by a judge as evidence of Chachua's alleged cocaine sales.
The ministry said Beria admitted to the charges and reached a plea agreement involving six months in prison, a three-year suspended sentence and a GEL 3,000 fine.
Chachua, in a statement from prison, alleged that two senior officials physically abused and threatened him for nearly two hours before the search began. He also claimed that pressure was being exerted on his wife and family to force him to confess and testify against others.
Georgia's Economy Grows by an Average of 9.3% Over Five Years, Finance Minister Says
Georgia's economy has maintained an average annual growth rate of 9.3% over the past five years, despite ongoing global and regional challenges, Georgian Dream Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said in Parliament while presenting the revised 2027 state budget.
He noted that following double-digit growth in 2021 and 2022, the country continued to record positive economic growth in subsequent years, demonstrating resilience to external shocks. Khutsishvili also pointed to positive assessments of Georgia's sovereign credit ratings as a reflection of the country's economic performance.
Khutsishvili said the government's medium-term priorities include diversifying the economy, increasing productivity, encouraging private investment and strengthening export competitiveness to ensure sustainable economic growth.
