Former Prosecutor General Murtaz Zodelava, a defendant in the October 4 case, stated in court that while he may have acted beyond what was necessary during the protest, the charges under Article 225 were artificially applied. “Everyone knows I am not a bandit,” he emphasized.
Zodelava explained that Article 225, which carries heavier penalties, was added deliberately. “If any action during the protest exceeded legal boundaries, the relevant articles exist - Articles 317 and 222 have been applied. If I went beyond the scope of the demonstration and need to be punished for it, I have been charged for that. That is understandable and can be debated in court. But Article 225, which is meant to combat banditry, is different in terms of sanctions. If I raised my hand or said more than necessary, I have been charged, but Article 225 was artificially added. Everyone knows I am not a bandit. I show that these people are bandits? That’s not how it is, my friends,” Zodelava told the court.
For context, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burculadze, and Irakli Nadiradze face charges under Article 19-222(2)(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia for attempting to seize and block strategic and particularly important facilities as part of a group. They are also charged under Article 225(1) for organizing and leading group violence, and under Article 317 for calling to violently change Georgia’s constitutional order and overthrow state power, punishable by up to 9 years in prison.
Other defendants’ charges include:
-
Irakli Shaishmelashvili - Article 317 (up to 3 years imprisonment);
-
Lasha Beridze - Articles 19-222(2)(a) and 225(1);
-
Irakli Chkhvirkias, Nika Gwencadze, Tornike Mchedlishvili - Articles 19-222(2)(a) and 225(1), punishable by 6-9 years;
-
Guri Zhvani - Article 225(2) for participation in group violence;
-
Paata Manjgaladze - Article 225(1), punishable by 6-9 years.
Zodelava’s statement highlighted his argument that the application of Article 225 to him was politically motivated rather than based on his actual actions.
