On August 8, 2016, the body of 22-year-old Demur Sturua was found hanging from a mulberry tree in his yard in the village of Dafnari, Samtredia district. A handwritten note discovered at the scene revealed that the previous day, police officer Goderdzi Tevzadze had demanded that Sturua provide information about people cultivating marijuana in three nearby villages — Dafnari, Kulashi, and Sajavakho. According to the note, the officer took him to Janeti, beat him, and threatened to accuse him of crimes he had not committed. The letter ended with the words: “Mother, you’re left alone, but what can I do.”

Soon after, these words appeared as graffiti and stencils on walls in Kutaisi and Tbilisi.

On August 20, activists of the White Noise Movement and their supporters gathered outside the State Chancellery in Tbilisi under the slogan “The state killed Demur Sturua.” They protested against Georgia’s repressive drug policy, saying it had once again claimed the life of an innocent person.

Protesters demanded that:

• Police officer Goderdzi Tevzadze and his unidentified partner be held criminally responsible;
• The head of the Samtredia district police resign;
• The Ministry of Internal Affairs form a monitoring group, with participation from civic organizations, to investigate police abuse and intimidation practices in Tbilisi and the regions;
• Immediate steps be taken to reform Georgia’s repressive drug policy.

A similar protest took place in front of the Samtredia police station, where locals — including Sturua’s relatives — demanded a swift and transparent investigation and harsh punishment for the perpetrator.

Tensions arose when Girchi party leader Zurab Japaridze appeared at the rally; protesters accused him of representing a political system responsible for such abuses (as a former member of the ruling United National Movement) and forced him to leave.

On August 29, the police officer named in Sturua’s letter, Goderdzi Tevzadze — an inspector-investigator at the Samtredia district police — was formally charged and declared wanted.

Interior Minister Giorgi Mgebrishvili stated that under his tenure, the ministry would not protect any suspect or criminal. Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili also publicly promised Tevzadze’s arrest and punishment.

On September 3, at dawn, Sturua’s mother and brother were beaten by an acquaintance, Davit Natsvlishvili, who demanded they change their testimony. Natsvlishvili was arrested the same day.

On September 13, Tevzadze surrendered to police but denied the charges. On June 3, 2017, the Kutaisi City Court acquitted him, and the Court of Appeals later upheld the decision.