“David Ghurtskaia is attempting to seize the Presidential Palace; you only saw a flower, which is not the case,” said Roin Khintibidze, the prosecutor in the case of those detained over the events of October 4 near the Atoneli (Orbeliani) Palace, speaking to journalists after the court hearing.

At today’s court session, video recordings presented by the prosecution were examined. While reviewing the footage, defendant David Ghurtskaia stated that he was the person who threw a flower toward police officers.

“No one is disputing that David Ghurtskaia threw a flower… However, with regard to some of the defendants, there is video footage showing that while they may not have entered the courtyard, they are standing near the fence; some attempt to damage the fence, some throw various objects in the direction of the police present there.

As for the defendants sitting in the dock whose videos were examined today, in one case it is visible that they enter inside and attempt to storm the palace; in another case, some try to damage or do damage to the fence in order to break into the palace; some throw certain objects.

Ghurtskaia is attempting, through violence and together with other participants in group violence, to seize a strategic facility, which constitutes two crimes with which he is charged. He is attempting to seize the Presidential Palace; you only saw a flower, which is not the reality. These people were there in order to seize a strategic facility. The video footage shows that some break into the courtyard to try to take control, while others damage the fence. As for the flower episode, it was presented because that specific video footage was used to identify and match the individual,” Khintibidze stated.

He also explained why the crime qualifies as a group offense, despite defendants claiming they do not even know one another.

“For a group crime to exist, the individuals must act in a similar manner. All video recordings show that these individuals act together, based on a single common objective, and that everyone acts following calls from the organizers,” Khintibidze said.

For reference, those detained in connection with the events of October 4 - Gocha Katashvili, Sulkhan Abralava, Konstantine Kokaia, David Zhghenti, Kakhaber Mzhavanadze, Alexander Gogoladze, David Sturua, Eva Shashiashvili, Zakro Albutashvili, Genadi Kelikhashvili, Dato Ghurtskaia, Ramaz Jorbenadze, Jandri Tirkia, Giorgi Chakhunashvili, and Ia Darakhvelidze - have been charged under Article 19-222, part 2, subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia (attempt to seize or block strategically important facilities, committed as a group). They are also charged under Article 225, part 2 (participation in group violence).

Ia Darakhvelidze, Giorgi Chakhunashvili, and Eva Shashiashvili are currently free on bail.