Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Russian citizen Anton Chechin to 8 years and 6 months in prison on charges related to drug crimes. The defendant, who maintains his innocence, was convicted under Article 260, Part 6 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the purchase, storage, and possession of a particularly large amount of narcotic drugs. The article carries penalties ranging from 8 to 20 years or life imprisonment.
Tensions rose inside the courtroom after Judge Jvebe Nachkebia announced the verdict. Several attendees voiced their dissatisfaction, prompting bailiffs to forcibly remove some individuals from the building.
Chechin was arrested on December 3, 2024.
