TBILISI, February 18 – A Tbilisi court on Wednesday continued hearings in a series of high-profile cases linked to the violent events of October 4, 2025, when an anti-government rally clashed with police near the presidential residence in downtown Tbilisi.
Among the defendants whose cases are being reviewed is former Minister of Defense Bacho Akhalaia, a well-known government figure during Mikheil Saakashvili‘s time as president. According to the source articles, he is charged in connection with the October 4 events alongside other opposition-linked individuals.
Prosecutors say several defendants took part in organized group violence that day, attempting to break through a police cordon at the entrance to the residence on Atoneli Street. The Interior Ministry has previously stated that officers were injured during the confrontation.
Defense lawyers reject the accusations, arguing that their clients were exercising their right to peaceful assembly and did not organize or participate in violence. They have called for acquittals and appealed earlier court rulings.
The October 4 rally unfolded during a period of sharp political tension between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition groups. Government representatives have described the events as an organized attempt to attack state institutions. Opposition figures maintain that the protest was political in nature and that participants were reacting to the broader political climate.
In earlier proceedings, the Tbilisi City Court found a number of defendants guilty of participation in organized group violence under Article 225 of the Criminal Code, which may lead to prison terms of up to six years. Several defendants received two-year sentences. Those decisions are now under appeal.
During the latest hearings, prosecutors asked the court to uphold prior verdicts, while defense teams argued that the evidence presented does not demonstrate prior organization or coordinated violence. The hearings were attended by the defendants, including Akhalaia, as well as supporters.
