“Regardless of who we are or whom we support, a targeted genocide is underway - Georgia faces disappearance, extinction, or transformation,” said Zurab Chavchanidze, detained in connection with the October 4 events, during his court hearing.

According to him, every Russian ruler dreams of “Georgia without Georgians.”

“I am from Sokhumi, and 15 young men from Sokhumi died fighting for Georgia so that we could all live in a better Georgia. Let’s speak in facts: what does Russian rule mean? Nearly a million Georgians have been killed, and every Russian ruler dreams of ‘Georgia without Georgians.’

I lived in the Soviet Union and remember well that we were all Soviet people. I also remember the massive weapons - enough to blow up the Earth ten times - but their priority was influencing people’s minds. This still continues today. Show me cheerful, free, happy people! There are none left - if there are, either their conscience is broken or they are indulging themselves in pleasure.

Regardless of who we are or whom we support, a targeted genocide is underway - Georgia faces disappearance, extinction, or transformation. We see examples of this: some people think, ‘As long as I’m fine, life is good.’ Danger threatens us all. I have opposed all forms of violence my whole life. I have written on a large wall: ‘God is love, love each other.’ Kindness, love, honesty, and lawfulness guide me.

A State Security Service officer came to my house and said, ‘We know everything about you, and you are a good man.’ My only call is for goodness and love: ‘I even love my enemy, and if I love, I truly love’ - this is the expression of the Georgian spirit. I have nothing beyond honesty and love,” said Zurab Chavchanidze.

For reference, the trial of 14 defendants in the October 4 case is ongoing at the Tbilisi City Court.

The accused in this case are: Vladimir Gvelesiani, Sergo Megrelishvili, Zurab Chavchanidze, Giorgi Rurua, Amiran Dolishvili, Anton Vardanidze, Giorgi Korkia, Alexander Chilachava, Genadi Kupreishvili, Lasha Ivanadze, Levan Jikia, Sulkhan Tugushi, Khvicha Gogokhia, and Ramaz Mamuladze. They are charged under Articles 19-222(2)(a) (attempted seizure of a strategic and particularly important object, committed as a group) and 225(2) (participation in group violence) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, punishable by up to six years of imprisonment.