Eight defendants to receive plea deals over October 4 presidential palace unrest

Eight people charged in connection with events that took place near the presidential palace on 4 October are set to receive plea agreements after admitting guilt during court proceedings.

At a hearing on Friday, eight defendants pleaded guilty and accepted the prosecution's evidence without contest. Their cases have now been separated from those of the remaining defendants.

Under agreements reached with prosecutors, the defendants are expected to receive suspended sentences of three years. Once the court formally approves the plea deals in the coming days, they are expected to be released from the courtroom.

The defendants who accepted plea agreements are Eva Shanshiashvili, Aleksandre Gogoladze, Gocha Katashvili, Sulkhan Abralava, Ramaz Jorbenadze, Bandri Tirkia, Genadi Kelikhashvili and Dato Gurtskaia.

Seven other defendants have not reached plea agreements and continue to contest the charges against them. They include physician Giorgi Chakhunashvili, Ia Darakhvelidze, Zakhro Albutashvili, Davit Zhgenti, Konstantine Kokaia, Kakhaber Mzhavanadze and Davit Sturua.

During the hearing, the seven defendants maintained their innocence and told the court that their actions on 4 October had been aimed at defending Georgia's interests.