“I returned to Georgia from Germany after 16 years. I knew what risks exist in this country, but I, Nana Sanders, am not afraid of anyone — not the GDD, not the ‘titushkas’. I am not avoiding responsibility, nor do I intend to hide,” said one of the defendants in the case concerning the October 4 protest, Nana Sander, during a court hearing.

According to her, she returned from 16 years of emigration in Germany because of the situation in Georgia.

“Hiding is not my style. I have lived in Germany since I was 20 years old, and I have been fighting for Georgia’s independence from Germany. I have kept my Georgian citizenship so that I can participate in elections in my country. Because I hold opposition views, I received threats from ‘trolls’ in Germany saying: ‘you will be arrested,’ etc.

Even if my arrest were a real risk, I still would have come, because I love my country — I have nothing to hide from my own homeland. After 16 years, I came back to Georgia and for the first time saw my family members in prison. I did not take German citizenship, and I am not going back to Germany. I came because I said — now my country is in trouble. I did not come to live here permanently; I came because my country is facing hardship, and that is why I returned after 16 years.

I knew what dangers existed in this country, but I, Nana Sanders, am not afraid of anyone — not the GDD, not the ‘titushkas’. I am not avoiding responsibility, nor do I intend to hide,” Sander stated.

Background:Beka Kelekhsashvili, Mamuka Labuchidze, Guriela Kardava, Vakhtang Fitskhelauri, Aleksandre Khabeishvili, Abo Naverian, Anton Uper, Avtandil Surmanidze, Giorgi Muladze and Temur Kurtsikidze have been charged under Article 19-222, Paragraph 2(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns the attempted seizure or blockade of strategic and especially important facilities committed by a group.

They have also been charged under Article 225, Paragraph 2, which concerns participation in group violence.

Mariam Mekantsishvili has been charged under Article 226 of the Criminal Code, which concerns organizing group actions.

Nana Sander has been charged under Article 225, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, which concerns organizing group violence and carries a sentence of 6 to 9 years of imprisonment. She is also charged under Article 317, which concerns calls for the violent overthrow of Georgia’s constitutional order and the removal of state authority, carrying a sentence of up to 9 years of imprisonment.