"I can neither confirm nor deny that I was injured by the pyrotechnics they fired; I cannot say what I haven’t seen," stated Nugzar Mirianashvili, an employee of the Special Tasks Department, during a court hearing where he was testifying in the case of Zviad Tsetskhladze and seven other individuals.

Mirianashvili has the status of a victim in the case. According to the police officer’s testimony, a pyrotechnic hit him in the right leg area, exploded on the spot, and caused injury.

"In the evening, at 8:00 PM, when I arrived, the protest was not violent. After around 11:00 PM, the throwing of objects and pyrotechnics began.

Bottles were being thrown from there, and some bottles contained various substances for added weight…

[At the ambulance] several individuals were brought with open wounds; they had burns from pyrotechnics. They were the first to be taken to the clinic. I had to wait for two ambulances and was then transferred to the Caucasus Medical Center. I didn’t have a fracture, but I had bruising. I was prescribed medications and cold compresses, and I underwent rehabilitation for about two weeks," Mirianashvili stated.

When asked by the prosecutor whether he could identify or saw who threw the pyrotechnic at him, the witness stated that he did not know.

"I can neither confirm nor deny that I was injured by the pyrotechnics they fired; I cannot say what I haven’t seen.

I have no personal interest against anyone; I didn’t see who threw what hit me. I don’t know them, but if the charges are proven, I have a claim since I was injured," Mirianashvili stated.

In response to the lawyer’s question about whether he witnessed any violent actions by Special Tasks Department employees against citizens, the police officer gave a negative response.

"I condemn all forms of violence, whether by protest participants or employees—it doesn’t matter; it’s unacceptable to me. But during my presence there, from arrival to injury, no such thing happened," Mirianashvili stated.

For reference, three of the detainees—Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, and Vasil Kadzelashvili—are charged with organizing and leading group violence. They face imprisonment ranging from 6 to 9 years.

Five of the accused—Giorgi Gorgadze, Irakli Miminoshvili, Insaf Aliev, Tornike Goshadze, and Nikoloz Javakhishvili—are charged with participating in group violence. They face imprisonment ranging from 4 to 6 years.