The rally was dispersed by riot police. We had to interrupt the government session. I had to establish what riot police were used at the rally, and Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili reassured me that tear gas and rubber bullets, which were approved in the West, had been used, - former Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli stated at the trial of Mikheil Saakashvili and other former high-ranking officials, where he is testifying as a witness.

“I met Saakashvili in 1995, when we became members of parliament together. In 2007, I was the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili was the President and Commander-in-Chief.

On November 6, I returned to Georgia, I was on a business trip abroad, I was in contact with both the ministers and the president. I offered Saakashvili a meeting and discussed the situation, however, he said that there was no need to talk and went home...

The rally had already been broken up, accordingly, I started a government session, which the law enforcement officials - Vano Merabishvili and Davit Kezerashvili - did not attend, however, this was not an uncommon occurrence. We discussed several issues, people started gathering again, the rally was dispersed with special means. We had to interrupt the government session, I had to establish what riot police were used at the rally, and Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili reassured me that tear gas and rubber bullets, which were approved in the West, had been used, and I gave this comment to the journalists.

We received information that Koba Davitashvili was injured, even killed. Then I learned that he was in the Gori hospital, injured, beaten, and I also informed the public through journalists...

It was not my authority to bring the army, I was not involved in this, the commander-in-chief of the country and the Minister of Defense could do it, however, it could also have been agreed upon by the Security Council, but this did not happen... The rally took on a tense character, the army was on Rustaveli, probably to establish order.

I did not communicate with the Minister of Defense, as for the President, we met late in the evening," Noghaideli said.

He spoke about the raid on Imedi TV and the declared state of emergency. According to Noghaideli, “Merabishvili told him, ‘I will take care of TV Imedi as well’…

“Mikheil Saakashvili’s interest in televisions was well-known, I’m not saying anything new. At that time, Imedi was an opposition channel and this was an important issue for Saakashvili… Badri Patarkatsishvili had a bigger interest in it than the railway…

I received information from Vasil Maghlaferidze at a meeting held on November 4, 2008. I learned from Maghlaferidze that a decision had been made there to disperse people, while I had known before November 6 that the rally should not be dispersed, however, other decisions were made there…

Saakashvili informed me that he intended to resign and call elections. Objectively, it was impossible to win these elections," Noghaideli said.

For your information, the state indictment charges Mikheil Saakashvili with the mass crackdown on protesters on November 7, 2007, the raid on the Imedi TV company, and the criminal seizure of property belonging to Badri Patarkatsishvili.

The former president of Georgia is charged under Part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which refers to abuse of official authority, which resulted in a substantial violation of the rights of an individual or legal entity, society, or the legitimate interests of the state. The aforementioned charge provides for a term of imprisonment of 5 to 8 years as a form and measure of punishment.

Along with Saakashvili, the defendants in the case are Vano Merabishvili, Zurab Adeishvili, Davit Kezerashvili, and Gigi Ugulava.