He made these remarks while explaining the guilty verdict to the defendants before its formal announcement.

“Defendants claimed that there had been a provocation, however, this was not confirmed during the examination of the evidence.

During the review of video evidence, we saw that at a peaceful rally, certain statements were made by individuals whose calls led you to move to that location. You were urged to move to the Presidential Palace and to carry out actions with ‘male strength’ that we see in the video recordings.

No one here is being judged on whether they are ‘honest or dishonest’; you are all honest people. What we are examining is whether the prosecution has proven the elements of a crime.

The rally was peaceful at Freedom Square, and none of you were detained there by the police. Violence occurred after you joined the rally at the Orbeliani Palace.

Several police officers were injured. Perhaps now you will finally distinguish between black and white.

The Presidential Palace is a strategic facility, and no one has the right to enter its courtyard without authorization. Some of you were on the front line, and the security service was repelling the attacking group. There were multiple attempts to enter; the fence was not an obstacle. Even if there had been no fence, no one had the right to enter there.

In the video recordings, we also saw that participants were preventing filming and telling others not to record. The prosecution succeeded in proving the charges against all eight defendants,” said Tkeshelashvili.

For context, in connection with the events of October 4, eight individuals accused in one episode - Zurab Chavchanidze, Vladimir Gevelesian, Amiran Dolishvili, Anton Vardanidze, Alexander Chilachava, Genadi Kupreishvili, Sulkhan Tugushi, and Ramaz Mamuladze - were found guilty by the court.

By the decision of Tbilisi City Court, each of the eight defendants was sentenced to five years in prison.