Police searching Georgian opposition party office where marijuana planted on New Year's Eve
TBILISI. Jan 11 (Interfax) - Representatives from the Georgian Interior Ministry came to search the Tbilisi office of the opposition New Political Centre - Girchi party, members of which, who advocate full legalization of marijuana, defiantly planted cannabis on New Year's Eve.
"I don't know why they postponed [their arrival at the office] [...] Probably, they will seize the pots and check whether it's actually marijuana inside them and this is really the case. Basically, there is nothing else to it. What we did was in public and society is aware of this," Zurab Japaridze, chairman of the Girchi ('Cone') party told reporters.
The representatives of the Interior Ministry produced a court resolution with a permit to conduct a search of the office, he said. The investigative actions are sanctioned under Article 265 of the Georgian Criminal Code (illicit seeding, growing or cultivating of plants containing narcotic substances).
"On the evening of December 31, we committed an act of civil disobedience. We intentionally violated, in our view, Part II or Part III of Article 265 of the Georgian Criminal Code. It is Part I, though, that is mentioned in their [court] resolution. But I was told that, as a rule, the case is opened under Part I," Japaridze said.
"To us, this is fighting for freedom," he said.
According to the available information, more than 80 pots with cannabis seeds are kept in the Girchi party office and the seeds have already taken hold.
Recently, the public campaign for drug decriminalization has intensified in Georgia. Events at which people demand abolition of criminal prosecution for use of marijuana and other soft drugs are becoming more and more frequent. The country's authorities, in turn, say that they are ready to amend current laws based on international practices and reforms in the area of drug policy.
According to official statistics, 29 out of every 10,000 Georgians are drug addicts. Of those, a tiny minority (11.5%) receive treatment. The most popular drug is marijuana. It is consumed by 63.9% of drug addicts. Those guilty of possession or distribution of marijuana face up to 11 years in prison under the Georgian penal law, while those taking the drug can be imprisoned for up to one year or fined.
The Girchi party was founded in November 2015 when a group of parliament members left United National Movement, the party created by former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. The New Political Centre - Girchi party was planning to take part in the October parliamentary vote but then withdrew from the election. A number of Girchi leaders attempted to compete for parliament seats as members of the bloc formed around the Paata Burchuladze - State for People party but the bloc lost the election.