“Let us clarify the situation: what exactly are you investigating - what happened on October 4, or who damaged the fence? You will not obtain false testimony either from Bacho Akhalaia, whom you are threatening with the arrest of his wife, or from Eva Shashiashvili - you will not succeed with others either, so my advice is: don’t bother,” Paata Burchuladze, who was detained in connection with the events that unfolded near the Atoneli Palace on October 4, stated while answering the judge’s question about whether he pleaded guilty.

“Mr. Judge, Mr. Prosecutors, let us clarify one issue: what exactly are you investigating - what happened on October 4, or who damaged the fence?

It is obvious to everyone that all this commotion serves only one purpose - to overshadow, for the first time in Georgia’s history, a people’s assembly as a successful act and to portray it as violence.

October 4 was one of the most important days of my life. I have had many very good and successful days in my life, but October 4 is one of the most significant. I am proud of it - and you are putting me on trial for that?

You accuse me of three things: overthrow, violence and calls for violence, and the seizure of a strategic facility. Let us examine each point, and if we agree that I am right, everyone must be sent home today.

Calls for violence - show me even one video where I call for violence. If you cannot show it, then this charge must be dropped. You cannot show it, because it simply does not exist in nature.

Overthrow - I have always spoken about a peaceful overthrow, which did occur. What do you think a peaceful overthrow is? What is happening in Iran is an overthrow; a peaceful overthrow happened on Rustaveli Avenue on the 4th.250,000 people voiced that power must be returned, and any government with even a bit of self-respect would already have resigned.

When the so-called Speaker of Parliament boasts on television that 1.2 million people voted for him, let us count how many people voted for their resignation on October 4. At least 250,000 people, each with an average of three family members. Many could not come from the regions due to lack of money. In addition, more than one million emigrants, 92% of whom are openly opposed to the government.On October 4, it was not elections that took place - it was their re-election and overthrow. Yes, we overthrew them. It is no coincidence that they have no legitimacy. This charge is also dismissed.

Seizure of a strategic facility - does anyone really believe that if hundreds of thousands of people had wanted to take this small palace, we would not have been able to do so? Who would have stood in our way if that had been our desire? This charge is also dismissed.

Instead of emphasizing that people filled the area from Freedom Square to Republic Square, they deliberately shift attention to a fence that had already been cut when we arrived. To make this issue seem important, more than 60 innocent people were arrested. These people, like all prisoners of conscience, should not be arrested - they should be carried on the palm of one’s hand. If Georgia did not have such sons, this country would no longer exist.

If you are so interested in the fence issue, you must summon the ‘Dream’ prime minister, who gave a self-incriminating statement on television and said: ‘We prepared a surprise for them there.’ Summon him and ask what that means. This issue, too, is dismissed.

I am the happiest person to be the initiator of the historic people’s assembly of October 4. I am responsible - leave the others alone. All you have left is to bring false witnesses to claim that I secretly and covertly incited them to illegal actions. You will not obtain such false testimony either from Bacho Akhalaia, whom you threaten with arresting his wife, or from Eva Shashiashvili. You will not succeed with others either, so my advice is: don’t bother.

Finally, there is a saying that you cannot buy everything with money, but you can buy everything with heart. I want to tell you: look into the eyes of the protesters standing on Rustaveli Avenue and the people sitting in prison, and you will see that love for the homeland is priceless - you cannot buy it even with great wealth.I am guilty, perhaps, because I love my country. If that is a crime - nine years…,” Burchuladze said.

For reference:Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, and Irakli Nadiradze were charged under Article 19–222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns an attempted seizure and blockade of strategic and especially important facilities committed by a group. They were also charged under Article 225, Part 1 (organization and leadership of group violence), and Article 317 (calls for the violent change of Georgia’s constitutional order and the overthrow of state authority), which carries a sentence of up to nine years’ imprisonment.

Irakli Shaishmelashvili was charged under Article 317, which concerns public calls for the violent change of the constitutional order or the overthrow of state authority, punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment.

Lasha Beridze was charged under Article 19–222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a,” and Article 225, Part 1 (organization and leadership of group violence).

Irakli Chkhvirkia, Nika Gventsadze, and Tornike Mchedlishvili were charged under Article 19–222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a,” and Article 225, Part 1. These offenses carry a sentence of six to nine years’ imprisonment.

Guri Zhvania was charged under Article 225, Part 2, which concerns participation in group violence.

Paata Manjgaladze was charged under Article 225, Part 1, which concerns the organization of group violence and carries a sentence of six to nine years’ imprisonment.