“Friends, first dare to do a third of what these people dared to do, and only then will you have the right to point a finger at anyone,” stated Anna Tsitlidze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement.

According to her, all five members of the October 4 organizing committee, who were sentenced to pre-trial detention, acted within the framework of Georgia’s Constitution to defend the country’s freedom.

“All those people who are now accused by the regime are heroes because each of them did everything to ensure this country is free.

For me, any form of struggle is justified, clearly peaceful, and clearly, these people acted within the framework of Georgia’s Constitution. Within the framework of Georgia’s Constitution, Georgian citizens were defending the country’s freedom. If anyone has stepped outside the constitutional framework today, it is the regime. Therefore, I deeply understand and share the motivation of each of these people.

I want to tell everyone who started pointing fingers at these people after October 4: friends, first dare to do a third of what these people dared to do, and only then will you have the right to point a finger at anyone.

Those of us who remain outside will do everything to ensure the fight continues. October 4 was not a day of defeat; it was a day of fighting the regime. It is the duty of every citizen of Georgia, in any form, to fight against the regime. This is what our ancestors did, and this is what we must do as well,” Anna Tsitlidze stated.

For information, pre-trial detention has been imposed as a measure of restraint on the leaders of the "Rustaveli Avenue" movement - Paata Burchuladze, former Chief Prosecutor Murtaz Zodelava, "National Movement" member Irakli Nadiradze, one of the leaders of "Strategy Aghmashenebeli" Paata Manjgaladze, and Colonel Lasha Beridze.

This decision was made by Judge Lela Maridashvili of the Tbilisi City Court.

For reference, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, and Irakli Nadiradze have been charged under Article 19-222, Part 2(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia (attempt to seize and block strategic and particularly important objects, committed by a group); Article 225, Part 1 (organization and leadership of group violence); and Article 317 (incitement to violently change Georgia’s constitutional order and overthrow the state government), which provides for imprisonment of up to 9 years.

Lasha Beridze has been charged under Article 19-222, Part 2(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia (attempt to seize and block strategic and particularly important objects, committed by a group) and Article 225, Part 1 (organization and leadership of group violence), which provides for imprisonment of up to 9 years.