Anton Chechin

Apprehended

Tortured

Violence

Prisoner

A. Chechin

Anton
Chechin

Anton Chechin, a 26-year-old Russian citizen, was compelled to leave the Russian Federation following Russia's military intervention in Ukraine and sought asylum in Georgia. While residing in Russia, he actively participated in anti-Putin protests, supported Navalny's political movement, and was repeatedly detained by law enforcement. Notably, the European Court of Human Rights had previously determined that his rights were violated in Russia. Upon arriving in Georgia, Chechin continued his public activism, engaging in protests, including those against the proposed "Russian law." He was subsequently fined for his participation in the spring protests.

On November 18, 2024, Chechin was detained and warned of impending "negative consequences" should he persist in his protest activities. This warning was likely a precursor to his subsequent arrest and criminal prosecution.

«Based on all of this, it's clear how absurd everything is»
—Chechin's wife

On December 3, 2024, he was arrested on charges of illegally acquiring and possessing a particularly large quantity of a narcotic substance, specifically 4.3369 grams of α-PVP. The accused alleged that this narcotic substance was "planted" on him by law enforcement.

The investigation commenced based on "operational information" provided by a "confidential source." Detective Edgar Oganesian presented information alleging that Chechin was an active narcotics user and engaged in their illegal acquisition and possession. On December 3, 2024, investigator Archil Natsvlishvili issued a decree authorizing a "personal search in cases of urgent necessity."

The search was conducted at Anton Chechin's residence. The official report states that the search was conducted amidst physical resistance and that a plastic bag containing a narcotic substance was discovered in the pocket of his outerwear jacket.

On December 3, 2024, Nana Shamatava, a judge of the Tbilisi City Court, deemed the personal search of Anton Chechin, conducted under "urgent necessity," lawful. On December 5, 2024, Judge Irakli Khuskivadze granted prosecutor Nugzar Chitadze's motion and ordered Anton Chechin's detention as a measure of restraint.

According to the case files, Detective Zurab Rusishvili and translator Shorena Tabatadze were questioned as witnesses. Tabatadze provided a verbatim repetition of the investigation's account of the search's circumstances and the "seizure" of the narcotic substance.

The following legal irregularities were identified:

Temporal Discrepancy: The brief four-minute interval between the commencement of the search and the detective's questioning raises significant doubts regarding the legality of the search. It is improbable that the investigator could have reviewed the report, gathered data, prepared the decree, and executed other necessary procedures within such a limited timeframe.
Video Evidence: Video footage from the building's entryway indicates that Anton Chechin's detention and search began at 09:48, contradicting the 10:00 time recorded in the official report. This discrepancy suggests that the search commenced before the investigation had a legal basis for its execution.
Translator's Role: The questioning of the translator as a witness is questionable, as a translator's function is to provide accurate translations of testimony or documents, not to corroborate factual circumstances.
Translator's Potential Bias: It was discovered that Shorena Tabatadze, the translator, is employed by a company that routinely provides translation services to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, raising concerns about her impartiality. The court denied the defense's motion to exclude the translator's testimony as inadmissible evidence.

«If even one person crosses over to the light side, it will be very significant for the collapse of this system»
—Chechin's wife

The irregularities observed in Anton Chechin's case suggest that his arrest and the charges against him may be politically motivated, intended to punish him for his participation in protests. This case further underscores the issue of "planted" narcotics in Georgia and the potential for abuse of the law enforcement system for political ends.

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