2017-06-10
I would like to comment on the case of Mikheil Mgaloblishvili and Giorgi Keburia, young men arrested for illegal purchase and possession of narcotics.
First of all I must emphasize that scrupulous protection of human rights is one of our greatest achievements, and we must ensure against any possibility of tarnishing this achievement.
It is true that our controlled substances legislation is overly harsh, and its liberalization is in order.
Therefore, I ask the Parliament to step up this issue, so that we may be able to adopt a modified, more humane and European law by the upcoming autumn sessions.
I would like to address our youth as well. Each step and decision taken by our Government is designed to create a free and civilized environment for you, the future generation of our country. Our generation knows well, and has experienced firsthand, how the system should not work, so we are sparing no effort to build a country where freedom of speech, expression, personal individualism will be a fact, not a promise. No young person, no individual has been punished for freedom of speech under our Government, nor will our society ever face this threat.
As for the circumstances surrounding the arrest of these two young men, the Prosecutor's Office issued a statement pledging to probe into the factual circumstances of this case within the shortest possible time.
Accordingly, this legal proceeding is yet to be finalized.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili
Prime Minister of Georgia