TBILISI, January 15 – A group of prominent Georgian opposition figures appeared in court in Tbilisi on Thursday as hearings continued into events that unfolded near the Atoneli Palace during a mass protest on October 4.
The case is being heard at Tbilisi City Court and involves Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, Lasha Beridze and several other defendants. Prosecutors say the group was involved in coordinated actions during the protest, which authorities describe as an attempt to seize or block a strategically important state facility and organize group violence.
According to court documents, some defendants also face charges related to public calls to overthrow Georgia’s constitutional order. Depending on the article applied, the charges carry possible prison sentences ranging from three to nine years.
During Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutors presented evidence and questioned expert witnesses. All defendants attended the session except Irakli Shaishmelashvili, who remains at large and is wanted by authorities.
Several of the accused addressed the court directly. Burchuladze, a well-known opera singer and one of the protest organizers, rejected the charges and said the October 4 rally was peaceful. He argued that prosecutors were focusing on minor property damage rather than the scale of the demonstration itself, which he described as a public assembly involving hundreds of thousands of people. He also complained about restrictions on his ability to communicate with family members while in custody.
Another defendant, Irakli Chkhvirkia, challenged video evidence presented by the prosecution, saying it did not show him engaging in violent acts. He told the court that he left the scene after being affected by tear gas and denied accusations that he called for violence.
The case has drawn attention in Georgia’s polarized political climate, where the October 4 protest remains a point of sharp disagreement between the government and its critics. Authorities have described the rally as an organized attempt to destabilize state institutions, while opposition figures insist it was a lawful public gathering.
Court proceedings are ongoing.
