Two arrested on drug charges in investigation into death of Abkhaz blogger Daur Buava

Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Sunday announced that, based on circumstances identified during the investigation into the death of Daur Buava, searches were conducted at two residential properties in Tbilisi and two people were arrested on charges of illegal purchase and possession of narcotic drugs.

The Interior Ministry noted that employees of the Vake-Saburtalo Main Division of the Tbilisi Police Department searched two residential properties in Tbilisi.

“Employees of the Vake-Saburtalo Main Division of the Tbilisi Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, based on circumstances identified during the ongoing investigation into the death of Daur Buava, conducted searches at two residential properties in Tbilisi and arrested two individuals on charges of illegal purchase and possession of narcotic drugs. As a result of the searches, 10 packages containing various types of narcotic substances - marijuana and methadone - were seized as evidence”, the statement said.

The Agency further said that the ongoing investigation established that both individuals arrested in connection with the drug charges were acquainted with Daur Buava and his female friend.

“The ongoing investigation into the criminal case, including witness interviews, confirms that both arrested individuals were acquainted with Daur Buava and his female friend, who was arrested by police yesterday. The investigation has also established that one of the individuals arrested on drug-related charges gave the female friend a narcotic substance free of charge. She used the substance together with Daur Buava and subsequently left him in a life-threatening condition without seeking assistance for him”, the Ministry noted.

“Within the framework of the ongoing investigation into Daur Buava’s case, law enforcement officers arrested a foreign national on August 29 on charges of abandoning a person in need. Relevant investigative measures are continuing in the criminal case”, the statement concluded.

Officers of the Vake-Saburtalo Main Division of the Tbilisi Police Department on Saturday arrested a foreign national on charges of abandoning a person in need as part of an investigation into the death of Abkhaz blogger Daur Buava.

Abkhaz blogger Daur Buava was found dead in his apartment in Tbilisi late on Thursday night.