Five individuals detained during the protest actions, charged with organizing, leading, and participating in group violence, will be assigned a public defender. This became necessary after the lawyers and defendants left the courtroom in protest because the judge did not change the courtroom despite multiple requests.

According to the lawyers, they are not refusing to participate in the proceedings; they are simply requesting appropriate working conditions for the defendants and lawyers.

Four of the detained individuals—Nikoloz Javakhishvili, Giorgi Gorgadze, Zviad Tsetskhladze, and Irakli Miminoshvili—are under the age of 21, while another defendant, Insaf Aliyev, does not speak Georgian. As a result, they are subject to mandatory defense.

As for the remaining individuals, the absence of the parties does not hinder the continuation of the proceedings.

The court proceedings have been suspended until the public defenders are appointed.

For the record, three of the detainees—Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, and Vasil Kadzelashvili—are accused of organizing and leading group violence. They face a sentence of 6 to 9 years in prison.

Five of the defendants—Giorgi Gorgadze, Irakli Miminoshvili, Insaf Aliyev, Tornike Goshadze, and Nikoloz Javakhishvili—are accused of participating in group violence. They face a sentence of 4 to 6 years in prison.