Tbilisi court imposes pretrial detention on protest leaders over attempted seizure of Presidential administration

The Tbilisi City Court, presided over by Judge Lela Maridashvili, has ordered pretrial detention for five leaders of the Rustaveli Avenue Movement Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Colonel Lasha Beridze. The decision was made during an on-site deliberation on Tuesday.

The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has charged the defendants with organizing and leading group violence, attempting to seize a strategic and particularly important government facility, calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and state authorities, among other offenses.

Burchuladze, Zodelava, and Nadiradze face charges under:
Criminal Code Article 222(2)(a) – Attempting to seize and block strategic facilities as part of a group

Article 225(1) – Organizing and leading group violence

Article 317 – Incitement to violently change the constitutional order and overthrow state authorities

Penalty: Up to 9 years in prison

Beridze is charged under Articles 222(2)(a) and 225(1), with the same maximum penalty.

Manjgaladze is charged under Article 225(1), also carrying a maximum penalty of 9 years.

During today’s hearing, defense attorney Beka Basilia requested a change of courtroom citing “high public interest,” which Judge Maridashvili denied, stating that the current hall was sufficiently large and that moving the session would unnecessarily delay proceedings. Prosecutors Vazha Todua and Tamar Bejuashvili supported the judge’s decision.

According to the prosecution, the defendants organized coordinated violent actions on October 4, a few days before local elections:

Burchuladze, Zodelava, Nadiradze, Beridze, Manjgaladze, and others allegedly mobilized citizens with aggressive intentions and publicly called for a revolution and the overthrow of the government.

At Freedom Square, Burchuladze presented a plan for group violence, instructing participants to detain government officials and carry out illegal measures against undesired persons.

The group then moved toward the Presidential Administration, a strategic facility, damaging fences, property, and infrastructure, and confronting law enforcement with heavy objects and fire.

Drones and videos captured the movements and actions of the participants. The prosecution noted that a police officer was injured and property damage assessments have been conducted, with suspects identified at the crime scene.

Prosecutor Todua emphasized that the events were premeditated and organized, not spontaneous, and that the defendants called on participants to continue violent acts in subsequent days. The actions, if proven, carry severe criminal penalties, including up to nine years in prison.