Defendants in pro-European rally case appear before court as comedian Onise Tskhadadze delivers emotional address

Tbilisi City Court on Friday resumed hearings in the high-profile case of 11 individuals accused of participating in group violence during pro-European rallies held earlier this year. Judge Nino Galustashvili presided over the session, which marks the first court appearance for comedian Onise Tskhadadze since the recent death of his father - a development that added emotional weight to the proceedings.

The defendants, including Tskhadadze, face serious charges related to alleged organized assaults on the law enforcement during demonstrations in support of Georgia’s European integration. If convicted, they face lengthy prison sentences.

During the hearing, Tskhadadze delivered an address, accusing the prosecution of moral responsibility for his father’s death and expressing frustration over the circumstances of his arrest.

“I first saw his hand on his heart when they were arresting me,” said Tskhadadze, referring to his father. “He had done no harm to anyone in his life... What happened is my personal tragedy.”

Tskhadadze went on to compare his treatment and that of the defendants to victims of a “state-driven injustice,” at one point declaring to prosecutors, “to me, you are maniacs”. 

Judge Galustashvili intervened during his remarks, urging him to remain within the limits of courtroom decorum. Tskhadadze responded by questioning whether the judge could truly understand his pain, invoking the grief of losing a parent and expressing his lack of fear toward the outcome of the trial.

“I know this will end the way we want, but the country is suffering,” he said. “I have defeated the fear of death long ago.”

The other ten defendants - Andro Chichinadze, Guram Mirtskhulava, Jano Archaia, Luka Jabua, Ruslan Sivakov, Revaz Kiknadze, Giorgi Terashvili, Valeri Tetrashvili, Sergey Kukharchuk, and Irakli Kerashvili - have remained in pre-trial detention for several months.

The prosecution alleges that the group engaged in coordinated violent acts during peaceful protests demanding Georgia stay on a pro-European path. Defense lawyers argue that the charges are politically motivated and that the accused are being targeted for their views and participation in demonstrations.