The Ministry of Internal Affairs categorically rejects the allegations made by Nodar Chachua against law enforcement officers
The Ministry of Internal Affairs categorically rejects the allegations made by Nodar Chachua against law enforcement officers. According to the ministry, Lali Beria told officers that she was keeping drugs in a residential apartment on Gamrekeli Street and voluntarily showed them their exact location. The ministry also says that Beria fully admitted to and repented of the crime she had committed in the case.
This is stated in a statement released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to the statement, all procedural and investigative actions in the case involving Nodar Chachua and his wife, Lali Beria, were conducted in full compliance with the law.
“We would like to respond to the false and unsubstantiated allegations made by Nodar Chachua against employees of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in which he accuses law enforcement officers of exerting pressure on him and his wife.
We would like to clarify that all procedural and investigative actions in the drug-related criminal case against Nodar Chachua and his wife, Lali Beria, were conducted in full compliance with the law.
The charges brought against them are based on the totality of evidence in the case, including covert audio and video recordings made pursuant to a judge’s ruling, which unequivocally confirmed the fact that Nodar Chachua sold the narcotic substance cocaine. His wife, Lali Beria, was also present during this incident.
On October 1 of this year, law enforcement officers stopped Nodar Chachua and his wife, Lali Beria, near their residence in Tbilisi.
During the personal search, which was video-recorded by police officers, Lali Beria told law enforcement officers that she was keeping narcotic substances in a residential apartment on Gamrekeli Street and voluntarily indicated their exact location.
During a search of the apartment belonging to Nodar Chachua and Lali Beria, law enforcement officers seized the following narcotic substances as evidence: cocaine, methadone, MDMA and alpha-PVP, as well as the psychotropic substance ketamine.
Materials and items used for packaging narcotic substances were also seized from the apartment, including an electronic scale, flasks and adhesive tape.
Following these investigative actions, Nodar Chachua and Lali Beria were arrested as accused persons.
Nodar Chachua was charged with the illegal acquisition, possession and sale of narcotic substances, as well as the illegal acquisition and possession of narcotic substances by a group acting by prior agreement and the illegal acquisition and possession of psychotropic substances by a group acting by prior agreement.
As for Lali Beria, she was charged with the illegal acquisition and possession of narcotic substances by a group acting by prior agreement, as well as the illegal acquisition and possession of psychotropic substances by a group acting by prior agreement.
In this criminal case, Lali Beria fully admitted to and repented of the crime she had committed. A plea agreement was subsequently concluded with her under the following terms: six months of imprisonment to be served in a penitentiary facility, a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of GEL 3,000.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs categorically rejects the allegations made by Nodar Chachua against law enforcement officers and clarifies that the investigative actions carried out in this criminal case were based on grounds provided for by law and conducted in compliance with the relevant procedural rules,” the statement reads.
For reference, Nodar Chachua, who was arrested on drug-related charges, issued a statement from prison today, saying that unprecedented pressure was being exerted on his wife and family. He also claimed that, before his arrest, law enforcement officers had intimidated and threatened him.
“Intimidation, threats and physical abuse took place at the time of my arrest, inside my home, for almost two hours before the search began. Two senior officials of the Central Criminal Police Department were involved. I do not know their names, but I would be able to identify both of them if necessary. The individuals they want me to testify against, and the case they are demanding that I confess to, make me feel that the officials of the Central Criminal Police Department are not seeking to solve a crime through these Soviet-style methods. Rather, all of this is part of a scenario intended to consolidate their positions in office. However, the scenario has failed,” Chachua said.
