“The organizers had a plan. Their family members openly spoke about betrayal. It is important that they provide clarification about what betrayal took place and who the influential individuals are that were part of this plan but changed their approach at the last moment,” stated Levan Sanikidze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement.

According to him, the most important thing is that the fight continues and that the detained individuals feel that victory will soon be formalized.

“The judge is a former member of the ‘Georgian Dream’ municipal council who behaved outrageously in court, insulting people and making humiliating remarks, in my firm belief. A state coup occurred in the country on October 26, 2024, when the elections were rigged, and the country, at a declarative level, deviated from the path of European development. Over 400 people are suffering from severe health injuries and will not find justice as long as Ivanishvili is in power. Prisons are being filled with political prisoners. ‘Georgian Dream’ is in international isolation, and through this, they are also ruining the country. There is an unimaginable new wave of forced emigration. In this situation, it is impossible for this government to emerge victorious.

On October 4, there was a program minimum and a program maximum. The minimum was to bring many people out onto the streets, to delegitimize the so-called elections, and to prevent Ivanishvili from creating some kind of façade that the Georgian people had accepted the status quo. As for the second plan, the organizers had a plan, their family members openly spoke about betrayal, so it is important that they provide more clarification about what betrayal took place and who the influential individuals are who were part of the plan but changed their approaches at the last moment,” Levan Sanikidze 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.