SARTANIA v. GEORGIA

THIRD SECTIONApplication no. 2177/08David SARTANIAagainst Georgialodged on 13 November 2007STATEMENT OF FACTS 1.  The applicant, Mr David Sartania, is a Georgian national, who was born in 1958 and lives in Tbilisi. He is represented before the Court by Ms N. Katsitadze and Mr A. Shoshikelashvili, lawyers practising in Tbilisi.A.  The circumstances of the case2.  The facts of the case, as submitted by the applicant, may be summarised as follows.1.  The applicant’s arrest and criminal proceedings conducted against him3.  On 17 May 2005 the applicant was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. His personal search, conducted by two police officers in the absence of independent witnesses, revealed drugs on his person. The police also discovered drugs in his vehicle. A subsequent forensic examination established that the substance seized from the applicant contained 1.767 grams of heroin. Ac …