Burchuladze invokes right to silence as prosecutors prepare evidence, lawyer

The defense attorney for Paata Burchuladze, one of the leaders charged in connection with the October 4 protests, said that his client was currently exercising his right to remain silent.

“He has been charged under three articles, but the indictment requires a more in-depth review, especially since the evidence has not yet been fully provided to us. According to the investigator, some of the evidence will be handed over today, and likely a pretrial measure will also be set,” Burchuladze’s lawyer Levan Kvelashvili said.

 “Regarding his position, he is currently exercising his right to remain silent. We will provide further updates once we receive the evidence, at which point he will also coordinate his response,” Kvelashvili added.

The Prosecutor’s Office has charged Burchuladze, along with Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze, with organizing and leading group violence, attempting to seize a strategic and high-priority facility, calling for the violent overthrow of Georgia’s constitutional order, and inciting the collapse of state authorities.

The suspects face up to nine years in prison if convicted.