Paata Burchuladze - I don't understand the silence of the opposition parties around October 4 - Mr. politicians, the Georgian people have clearly and loudly declared their will and are expecting its implementation from you
If I am free after these words, I will cross over there, - this is how Paata Burchuladze, who was detained in connection with the October 4 events, addressed Judge Irakli Khuskivadze after his lawyer, Shota Tutberidze, delivered an extensive closing statement in court.
After the judge told Burchuladze to speak, the defendant stated that he did not understand what was being argued.
"So, you’re not letting me out yet, are you? Mr. Judge, as I understand it, one of the goals of the trial is for the person to understand what he did wrong, why he is being tried and why he is being punished. Even today, I don't understand what these two great, honest, truth-loving prosecutors want from me.
I convened a public assembly and for the first time in the history of Georgia, we held a national assembly in which no political party participated. However, representatives from all over Georgia participated, including from Abkhazia and Samachablo. At the national assembly, hundreds of thousands of people unanimously voted for a declaration, the content of which you are well aware of.
In my opinion, and probably you will agree with me, Mr. Judge, that this was a historic and timely gathering, where citizens expressed their desire for necessary changes.
I do not understand the silence of the opposition parties around October 4, which they are now demonstrating.
Instead of constantly talking about the desire and determination of the people for the country to develop in a European way, they are silent and allow the Georgian Dream to shift all attention from the national assembly to a forged iron fence that no one needs. In this, it is helped by the so-called opposition party, which took part in the so-called elections and blamed its own failure and inaction on the national assembly.
Mr. politicians, the Georgian people clearly and loudly declared their will on October 4 and expect you to fulfill it. Mr. Judge, I am very proud of this day, of the people standing there, and I am waiting for an explanation from the court as to what the Georgian people did wrong.
I personally repeat once again, there are two organizers of the October 4 national meeting - me and the Georgian Dream. And if it were not for the Georgian Dream, I would not have been able to and there would have been no need to hold the October 4 meeting," Burchuladze said.
