British Army veteran Matthew Roy Desmond is expected to return to the United Kingdom on July 16 after reaching a plea agreement with Georgian prosecutors, bringing an end to nearly three months of detention in Tbilisi’s Gldani prison.
A hearing at Tbilisi City Court, initially scheduled for July 13, was adjourned until July 16 to allow Desmond’s family more time to raise the agreed fine of 100,000 GEL (around £28,000), a key condition of the settlement.
If the payment is completed before Thursday’s hearing, the court is expected to approve the plea agreement, after which Desmond will be released from custody. He is then expected to be handed over to Georgia’s Migration Department for deportation and flown directly back to Britain.
Although Desmond’s legal team continues to insist he committed no crime, they say the former soldier has chosen to accept the agreement because of the uncertainty of a lengthy trial and his deteriorating health in prison.
“The defense believes he is innocent, but we could not guarantee the outcome of a full trial,” attorney Jaba Kochlamazashvili told reporters after Sunday’s hearing. “Given his health condition and the fact that he faced a possible sentence of eight to twelve years, we decided not to take that risk. For him, the most important thing now is to regain his freedom.”
Kochlamazashvili said the defense had already reached an agreement with prosecutors on the amount of the fine but needed additional time to complete the transfer.
“The family is still collecting the money. It is a significant amount, and international bank transfers also require time. We expect everything to be ready within two days,” he said.
Judge Nino Galustashvili subsequently rescheduled the hearing for July 16 at noon.
Desmond, 49, is charged under Article 262 of Georgia’s Criminal Code with illegally importing large quantities of narcotic and psychotropic substances, an offense punishable by eight to twelve years in prison.
He was detained on April 23 while entering Georgia from Turkey during a motorcycle journey across Europe. His lawyers say the medication found in his possession—pregabalin, buprenorphine and codeine—had been legally prescribed to treat chronic spinal injuries sustained during his service in the British Army’s airborne forces.
The defense argues that the case stemmed from a procedural issue rather than criminal intent. While Desmond carried a medical certificate confirming the prescription, the document had not been apostilled, as required under Georgian regulations for bringing certain controlled medicines into the country.
His lawyers say they later provided prosecutors and the court with all the required documents, including apostilled originals and certified Georgian translations, but the criminal proceedings nevertheless continued.
A decorated veteran, Desmond has travelled through around 25 countries by motorcycle without incident. His military record, including commendations for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, forms part of the court case, alongside character references from former commanders and fellow soldiers describing him as an exemplary serviceman.
Desmond’s story is also featured in journalist Sam Kiley’s book Desperate Glory, which recounts the actions of British airborne troops in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.
Separately, Desmond also challenged an administrative case alleging drug use in Georgia after traces of his prescribed medication were detected in his urine. His lawyers say the court dismissed the allegation in June after prosecutors failed to prove the medication had been consumed inside Georgia, given that he was detained immediately upon crossing the border.
Image source: Radiotavisupleba.ge
Related story: British war veteran faces up to 12 years in Georgian prison over painkillers, lawyers say
