On the night of 9 March, Davit Chkheidze, an active participant in ongoing protests, was stopped by police and taken to the Tabukashvili Police Department for drug testing. According to Chkheidze, he was returning from a protest by car with his family when several patrol units stopped him. He was initially subjected to a breathalyzer (alcohol) test, which returned a negative result. Police subsequently conducted an on-site drug test and indicated a positive result, following which Chkheidze was transferred to the police station for further examination. Subsequent laboratory testing did not confirm the presence of narcotic substances, and Chkheidze was released. However, biological samples taken from him were forwarded for additional forensic analysis. Several days later, it was confirmed through expert examination that no traces of narcotic substances were detected in Chkheidze’s system.
Davit Chkheidze is a diplomat with extensive professional experience. In February 2025, he left public service and has since been participating in pro-European protests. He previously held positions in various state institutions and possessed a diplomatic passport.According to Chkheidze, another protest participant, Paata Alaverdashvili, was in the vehicle with him at the time. He stated that law enforcement officers removed Alaverdashvili from the vehicle and detained him on the spot on charges of verbally insulting a police officer. Paata Alaverdashvili was placed in administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia alleges that he verbally insulted a police officer. He was detained under Article 173(2) of the Code of Administrative Offences, which concerns the verbal insult of a law enforcement officer and provides for a fine ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 GEL or administrative detention for up to 60 days. According to Alaverdashvili’s lawyer, Teo Zakaraishvili, he was verbally abused at the police station following his detention. She stated that no physical violence was observed and that the detainee is in good condition.
