“Would the same thing have happened if you hadn’t been wearing a mask?” - this question was posed by General Lasha Beridze, a defendant in the October 4 case, to police officer Lasha Jugheli, who holds victim status in the case.

Jugheli is the head of the Vake-Saburtalo Police Department. According to his testimony, about 15 people physically assaulted him near the Atheneum Palace, one of whom he identified as defendant Guri Zhvania.

Beridze was the only defendant to directly question a police officer with victim status.

“In general, a masked police officer in society is associated with a potential aggressor, while an unmasked officer is associated with someone who enforces the law. If you hadn’t been wearing a mask, would the same thing have happened?” Beridze asked Jugheli, to which the officer replied, “Probably, yes.”

Beridze then followed up with another question:

“Mr. Lasha, you would have attended many demonstrations unmasked. On other occasions, has any violence been directed at you as a police officer?”

However, the court dismissed this question, stating it was not relevant to the case.

Charges Against Defendants:

• Murtaaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, and Irakli Nadira face charges under Article 19-222(2)(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, for attempting to seize and block strategically important objects as part of a group. They also face charges under Article 225(1) for organizing and leading group violence, and Article 317 for inciting violent changes to Georgia’s constitutional order and overthrow of state power - punishable by up to 9 years in prison.

• Irakli Shaishmelashvili is charged under Article 317, punishable by up to 3 years in prison.

• Lasha Beridze faces charges under Articles 19-222(2)(a) and 225(1) for attempting to seize strategic objects as part of a group and organizing group violence.

• Irakli Chkhvirkias, Nika Gwencadze, and Tornike Mchedlishvili are charged under Articles 19-222(2)(a) and 225(1), punishable by 6-9 years in prison.

• Guri Zhvania is charged under Article 225(2) for participation in group violence.

• Paata Manjgaladze is charged under Article 225(1) for organizing group violence, punishable by 6-9 years in prison.

Beridze’s questioning focused on the role of masks and how they influence public perception of police officers during demonstrations.