"After 13 years, I changed my decision – I have a lot to say to the court, and probably, I will speak for many people today," lawyer Eka Beselia told journalists before the court hearing for 11 individuals detained during a protest.

Eka Beselia is representing actor Andro Chichinadze in the case of the 11 individuals detained during the protest. The criminal case has reached its concluding stage, and Beselia will deliver a closing statement. She noted that the reason for her decision to address the court again after 13 years is "the remarkable resilience of prisoners of conscience and their freedom."

"After 13 years – this decision, which I made for myself at the time, was that as long as the judiciary was not free, I would never address a judge in the courtroom until I saw that such an address would carry the legal value that a judge should embody through freedom. Why did I change this decision? The reason is the remarkable resilience of prisoners of conscience and their freedom, which is my main motivation today, and I believe that the factor of these people stands above my own disposition or desire. This is my main motivation. I have a lot to say to the court, and I will probably speak for many people today. We have a very strong legal analysis. By the way, it is symbolic that today is the 26th, and we have prepared 26 arguments for the judge to consider, each of which would be sufficient on its own for an acquittal. The main thing I want to show is the full picture because justice is not measured only narrowly or by specific details. The big picture shows why not only the fate of these individuals but also Georgia’s European future depends on this decision," Eka Beselia stated.

For reference, during the ongoing protests near the Parliament, 11 individuals were detained on charges of participating in group violence.

The detained individuals – Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhadadze, Jano Archaia, Ruslan Sivakov, Luka Jabua, Guram Mirtskhulava, Valeri Tetrashvili, Giorgi Terishvili, Irakli Kherashvili, Revaz Kinadze, and Sergei Kukharchuk – were charged under Article 225, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to participation in group violence.

This offense carries a penalty of imprisonment ranging from 4 to 6 years.