Eight men sentenced to five years in prison over October 4 case

A court in Georgia has sentenced eight defendants to five years' imprisonment each in connection with the events of 4 October.

Judge Romeo Tkeshelashvili handed down the sentences to Zurab Chavchanidze, Vladimer Gvelesiani, Amiran Dolishvili, Anton Vardanidze, Aleksandre Chilachava, Genadi Kupreishvili, Sulkhan Tugushi and Ramaz Mamuladze.

Prosecutors accused the eight men of attempting, as part of a group, to seize a strategically and specially important facility, as well as participating in organised group violence.

Separately, plea agreements were reached with 22 other individuals in connection with the events of 4 October.