“I am the organizer of the October 4 rally. If it had not been for the provocation, everything would have proceeded very peacefully,” Paata Burchuladze, one of the individuals convicted in the October 4 case, said.

According to him, opposition politician Paata Manjgaladze, who is one of the defendants in the case, was not involved in organizing the rally.

“I am the organizer of the October 4 rally. If it had not been for the provocation, everything would have proceeded very peacefully.

“Paata Manjgaladze was not involved in the organization at all.

“I am happy that I was the organizer of October 4,” Paata Burchuladze said.

For reference, a trial is underway at the Tbilisi Court of Appeals concerning the events that took place near the Atoneli Palace on October 4. The defendants are Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, Lasha Beridze, Irakli Shaishmelashvili, Irakli Chkhvirkia, Guri Zhvania, Nika Gventsadze and Tornike Mchedlishvili.

The court of first instance sentenced Lasha Beridze, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, Irakli Nadiradze and Paata Manjgaladze to seven years in prison each; Tornike Mchedlishvili, Guri Zhvania, Nika Gventsadze and Irakli Chkhvirkia to five years each; and Irakli Shaishmelashvili to two years in prison. The defense appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeals.

Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze and Irakli Nadiradze were charged under Article 19-222, Part 2(a), of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns an attempt, committed by a group, to seize and block strategic and specially important facilities. They were also charged under Article 225, Part 1, of the Criminal Code, which concerns organizing and leading group violence. In addition, they were charged under Article 317, which concerns calls for the violent change of Georgia’s constitutional order and the overthrow of state authority and carries a sentence of up to nine years in prison.

Irakli Shaishmelashvili was charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns publicly calling for the violent change of Georgia’s constitutional order or the overthrow of state authority and carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.

Lasha Beridze was charged under Article 19-222, Part 2(a), of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns an attempt, committed by a group, to seize and block strategic and specially important facilities. He was also charged under Article 225, Part 1, which concerns organizing and leading group violence.

Irakli Chkhvirkia, Nika Gventsadze and Tornike Mchedlishvili were charged under Article 19-222, Part 2(a), of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns an attempt, committed by a group, to seize and block strategic and specially important facilities. They were also charged under Article 225, Part 1, which concerns organizing and leading group violence. The offense carries a sentence of six to nine years in prison.

Guri Zhvania was charged under Article 225, Part 2, of the Criminal Code, which concerns participation in group violence.

Paata Manjgaladze was charged under Article 225, Part 1, of the Criminal Code, which concerns organizing group violence. The offense carries a sentence of six to nine years in prison.