Vienna-based forensic says ‘no evidence of drug consumption’ in ex-PM Gakharia’s analysis
Giorgi Gakharia announced his plans of running for Tbilisi mayor on September 1. Photo: Giorgi Gakharia's Facebook
Tweet 
Share
Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who now leads opposition For Georgia party, has underwent voluntary drug screening through analysis of blood and urin in Vienna-based Rudolfinerhaus private hospital.
Based on the results of the examination, conducted ‘in line with the applicable Austrian rules and regulations’ for drug test, the detailed analysis ‘show no evidence of drug consumption’.
Ruling party mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze also said he is ‘clean’ following a drug screening earlier this month, encouraging his rivals to follow his suit and promote healthy lifestyle.
Georgia will elect mayors and city council members on October 2. Majoritarian candidates must obtain over 40 per cent of the valid votes cast, and candidates for mayor over 50 per cent, otherwise a second round is held within four weeks.
Businessman Mikheil Gabriadze has told Rustavi 2 TV that he and his friends stand behind ‘bloody’ billboards depicting opposition politicians. Claiming that he does not belong to any political party, Gabriadze said the former ruling party – United National Movement – which is now the largest opposition party, should not return to power.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) says the political landscape is ‘highly polarized’ in Georgia ahead of the upcoming October 2 local self-government elections. The OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission (EOM) published its interim report on September 17.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that ‘very serious provocations’ from the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party are expected ahead of the October 2 local elections. Garibashvili responded to the head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze’s recent statement regarding the possible provocations from UNM and stated that he shares the fellow party member’s opinion.
The For Georgia opposition party, which was founded by the country’s former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia back in may 2021, says that Gakharia’s hair follicle drug test performed by FTC-Forensisch-Toxikologisches Labor in Austria, Vienna, on September 14, is negative.