A court in Georgia is hearing the case of a Kazakh truck driver accused of possession and transportation of psychotropic substances. Relatives of the man say the medications were prescribed by a doctor, reports infohub.kz.
Yulia Chekulayeva, a resident of Shchuchinsk, said her husband Ivan Chekulayev went to Georgia in April for another trip as a long-haul trucker. According to the woman, he had painkillers prescribed by a doctor in Germany. However, customs officers at the port of Poti found the medication, which is classified as a psychotropic substance in Georgia, and detained him.
"We were waiting for him to come back from the trip; we want him to come home. He is very calm and responsible; he couldn't have done anything wrong. It turns out he just didn't have the paperwork with him. Without that paper, we were nobody at that moment," Yulia Chekulayeva shared.
The woman explained that her husband's back pain medication was prescribed by a doctor in Germany, but he did not have the prescription with him. As a result, under Georgian law, he was detained and brought to court. The 44-year-old Kazakh citizen faces up to 15 years in prison.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan commented on the situation: "According to available information, criminal proceedings have been initiated against this citizen under Part 1 of Article 262 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. This article provides for liability for illegal possession or transportation of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances without the intent to sell. Kazakh diplomats in Georgia, within their competence, are providing our compatriot with the necessary consular and legal assistance. This issue is under the control of the ministry."