TBILISI, June 9 – More defendants in Georgia’s “October 4” case are expected to walk free after agreeing to plea deals with prosecutors.
Releasing those detained at protests has been one of the main demands by Georgia’s opposition protesters since the parliamentary election in October, 2024. Interpressnews now reports that some could be released already today.
Detainees in connection with one of the most dramatic evenings of a year and a half of rallies, may now move toward being freed. The case concerns events near the Atoneli Palace, the presidential residence in central Tbilisi, on October 4. Prosecutors say 64 people have been brought to criminal responsibility over the events.
Eight defendants in one episode are set to receive plea agreements on Tuesday. The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm at Tbilisi City Court, where a judge is expected to approve the agreements reached between the prosecution and the defendants.
All eight are receiving three-year conditional sentences. Seven are expected to be released from the courtroom after the agreements are approved. One of the eight was already free on bail.
Prosecutors agreed to the deals after the defendants admitted guilt and accepted the evidence as undisputed.
The episode had 15 defendants in total. Seven others did not admit guilt and therefore did not receive plea agreements. Their case will continue before a different judge.
The defendants in this episode were charged under provisions covering an attempted group seizure and blocking of strategic and special-importance facilities, as well as participation in group violence.
The plea process has widened in recent days. On Monday, Interpressnews reported that six more defendants in another episode were also set to receive plea agreements. That brought the total number of defendants currently receiving plea agreements in the October 4 case to 21.
Prosecutors say they are not asking defendants to accept plea agreements, but are responding to applications from defendants who admit the crime and request a deal. According to the prosecution, a plea agreement requires defendants to admit guilt, show remorse and accept the prosecution’s evidence as undisputed.
Some defendants and lawyers have taken a different line, saying they will not admit to acts they say they did not commit. One defense lawyer described that position as “the path of struggle.”
