Prosecutor’s Office charges 16 more individuals in connection with October 4 rally, one charged in absentia

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has filed charges against 16 additional individuals in connection with the October 4 events in Tbilisi, including one person in absentia, on allegations of attempting to seize a strategic and high-security facility, organising and participating in group violence.

The body added the investigation determined that several defendants, including Iuri Lomidze, Giorgi Talakhadze, Davit Giunashvili, Temur Kurtsikidze, Genadi Kelikhashvili, Dato Ghurtskaia, Ramaz Jorbenadze, Jandri Tirkia, Gia Toloraia, Guri Zhvanis, Kakhaber Kvachantiradze, Simon Makharadze, Avtandil Topchishvili and Mikheil Toloraia participated in violent actions against law enforcement at the President’s Administration building in Tbilisi. The defendants damaged protective barriers and entered the premises, throwing objects and physically assaulting officers to overcome resistance.

Former head of the Special Tasks Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Irakli Shaishmelashvili, allegedly mobilised participants during the rally at Freedom Square, calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and the Government. He has been charged in absentia with a crime carrying a penalty of up to three years in prison.

Another defendant, Mariam Mekhantsishvili, is charged with organising group actions under Article 226 of the Criminal Code, also punishable by up to three years in prison.

Other defendants were charged for participation in group violence and attempting to seize strategic facilities, with penalties ranging up to six years in prison, depending on their alleged roles.

Law enforcement authorities arrested the charged individuals on Friday in accordance with court orders. The Prosecutor’s Office will request pretrial detention for 15 of the defendants, while seeking bail for Mekhantsishvili due to specific circumstances.

The investigation is ongoing, with an additional 48 individuals already charged for involvement in attempts to seize strategic facilities and participation in group violence.