TBILISI, October 4 – Georgian opera singer Paata Burchuladze, imprisoned over the events of October 4, 2025, has published a letter from prison marking one year since the protest that led to his arrest.
In the letter, reported by Interpressnews, Burchuladze republishes the declaration adopted at what organizers called a “National Assembly” during the October 4 protest. He says the purpose is to remind Georgian Dream what protesters claimed citizens had decided that day and why they regarded the ruling party’s government as illegitimate.
The declaration said participants considered state power to belong to the Georgian people and claimed the authorities had lost legitimacy following the October 26 election. It also called for a peaceful transitional period aimed at transferring power, restoring democratic institutions and immediately restarting dialogue on European Union membership.
The declaration also demanded legal accountability for six figures: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Anzor Chubinidze, Mamuka Mdinaradze, Tea Tsulukiani and Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.
The October 4, 2025 protest took place alongside municipal elections. The Rustaveli Avenue movement organized a demonstration described as a “People’s Assembly,” with participants initially gathering at Freedom Square.
Organizer Murtaz Zodelava later addressed the crowd and called on participants to move toward the presidential palace on Atoneli Street. Part of the demonstration then headed in that direction.
Several people breached the barrier around the presidential palace courtyard, while protesters chanted slogans calling for a “peaceful revolution” and “peaceful overthrow”.
Burchuladze and Zodelava were later arrested along with United National Movement member Irakli Nadiradze, Strategy Aghmashenebeli figure Paata Manjgaladze and Lasha Beridze. Dozens of activists were also detained in connection with the October 4 events.
