Protests are ‘not a hobby’ but a fight for democracy, arrested opposition leader

Irakli Nadiradze has told a court hearing that anti-government protests in Georgia were driven by demands for democracy and fair elections, rather than revolutionary aims.

“Our goal is not to stand at rallies. This is not a hobby, nor a passion,” Nadiradze said during court proceedings. “No one would even speak about revolution if the country had a government that obeyed the will and choice of the people.”

The opposition politician, a member of the United National Movement, said protests and demonstrations represented expressions of freedom and democracy, and served as a means of communication between citizens and the authorities.

According to Nadiradze, governments in democratic states should respond to large-scale public demonstrations and seek solutions to political crises.

“We chose to fight for our freedom, dignity and justice,” he said.

Nadiradze also argued that in a “normal country”, governments should change through elections, adding that this required elections to be free, democratic, transparent and fair.

Nadiradze was arrested on the night of 4 October 2025 alongside Paata Burchuladze, Paata Manjgaladze, Murtaz Zodelava and Lasha Beridze.

Investigators accuse the group of publicly calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and state authority, as well as organising, leading and participating in group violence. The charges carry prison sentences of up to nine years.