Protest Rallies Against Drug Policy Held in Three Major Cities of Georgia

The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) White Noise Movement held a massive protest rally against the “repressive” drug policy in Georgia, asking for a more human attitude towards drug consumers.

The protest rallies were held in Georgia’s three major cities Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi, on December 10, when the whole world marks Human Rights Day. The main slogan of the rally was: End the Repressive Drug Policy!

White Noise explained that they are not asking for the legalization of drugs in Georgia. They believe some restrictions and sanctions should remain; however, the drug policy should be transferred from a punitive to a caring one, which implies the creation of special services for drug addicts for their rehabilitation and re-socialization.

The demonstrators called on Parliament to adopt the already-initiated draft law which would mean people would not be imprisoned for personal consumptions of drugs. The draft was made by the Health Committee, together with the National Platform for Drug Policy, in spring, but the issue has yet to be put on the parliamentary agenda.

One of the leaders of the movement, Beka Tsikarishvili, stated that the government promised the issue would be discussed at the autumn session of the parliament but so far no steps have been taken in this regard.

“The aim of our protest is to push parliament to start discussions on the draft in order to change the repressive drug policy this year,” Tsikarishvili said.

He added that around 30 inmates who are serving their sentence for consuming drugs went on hunger strike in order to join the protest.

“We call on the President to pardon such people before the New Year,” he stressed.

In parallel to the protest rally of the NGO and the supporters of a liberal drug policy, clergymen, with members of the Church parish and the Orthodox Parents’ Union held a silent demonstration with the slogan: Drugs – the Road to the Hell.

The clerics said drug addiction is a great sin, and Georgian society should not be loyal to the fact. Georgia’s new Public defender, Nino Lomjaria, commented on the issue, saying a strict narco-policy cannot produce results.

“Drug-addiction is a serious problem in Georgia. Studies have shown that a strict drug policy brings no positive results. I think it is time to start serious discussions about reforms in this field,” she added.

Thea Morrison