Vepkhia Kasradze and Vasil Kadzelashvili were discussing specific criminal acts during the rally, specifically how to damage the property of a public official, Kaladze, and his family members, stated investigator Levan Basiladze during a court hearing where he was questioned as a witness.

Basiladze is testifying in the case of nine individuals detained on charges of organizing and participating in group violence.

According to him, operational information was received that a video had been published on the Imedi TV channel’s page, which he reviewed and subsequently sent for expert analysis.

“Vepkhia Kasradze and Vasil Kadzelashvili were discussing specific criminal acts during the rally, specifically how to damage the property of a public official, Kaladze, and his family members. In particular, they planned to spray gasoline with a ‘syringe’ and set it on fire the next day, meaning they would attach a so-called cigarette butt to ignite the fire, and also carry out sabotage… Approximately 200 people would gather, and people would be killed, with the goal of completing this before the New Year,” said Levan Basiladze.

He noted that a habidoscopic (visual identification) expertise was also conducted, which confirmed that the individuals in the submitted video were indeed Vepkhia Kasradze and Vasil Kadzelashvili.

According to him, he also reviewed a video of another defendant, Giorgi Gorgadze.

“The footage showed him throwing stones at police officers. I reviewed a YouTube video where Gorgadze, along with other citizens, was seen throwing pavement stones at the special forces unit,” the investigator stated.

According to his testimony, he examined a social media page called “Daphioni” and a video by Zviad Tsetskhladze. The investigator stated that citizens were writing about throwing eggs at the police, attacking with oil using drones, organizing a “Maidan,” and damaging water cannon vehicles.

This video became a point of contention between the parties. The defense argued that the video should have been presented in its original form, as the prosecution’s video included sound, while the defense’s video did not.

For reference, of the eight detained individuals, three—Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, and Vasil Kadzelashvili—are accused of organizing and leading group violence, facing 6 to 9 years of imprisonment.

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