"I have declared a dry hunger strike. The dead do not die twice — I died in Sokhumi. I continue living only for love," said Zurab Chavchanidze, who was detained in connection with the events of October 4 near the Atoneli Palace.

He spoke at length at his court hearing.

"I am from Sokhumi. In Sokhumi I lost 15 brave men. If I come out of here, their souls do not allow me to stay silent, because the fight against the Russians took their lives. I saw with my own eyes what Russian rule means. Under Russian rule, up to a million Georgians were killed — Russia's dream is ‘Georgia without Georgians’…

They call me the flag bearer — the one holding the EU and Georgian flags, that is me. No one on this earth can explain how I survived — God performed a miracle.

I have declared a dry hunger strike. The dead do not die twice — I died in Sokhumi. I continue living only for love… Victors do not seek revenge anywhere or ever.” — Chavchanidze stated.

For reference, Vladimir Gvelesiani, Zurab Chavchanidze, Sergo Megrelishvili, Giorgi Rurua, Amiran Dolishvili, Anton Vardanidze, Giorgi Korkia, Aleksandre Chilachava, Genadi Kupreishvili, Lasha Ivanadze, Levan Jikia, Sulkhan Tugushi, Khvicha Gogokhia and Ramaz Mumladze have been charged under Article 19-222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which refers to an attempt to seize and block strategic and specially designated facilities committed by a group. They are also charged under Article 225, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which refers to participation in group violence.