Shalva Papuashvili: People are in prison over October 4 because of the shamelessness of Zodelava and others who sought plea deals and expressed remorse

“When we talk about Zodelava and the others who have requested plea agreements and expressed remorse, these people are in prison over October 4 because of their shamelessness. If they acknowledge their crimes and are released in time, they will pave the way for other prisoners who are in prison because of their own shamelessness,” Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said, commenting on the request for plea agreements by those convicted in the October 4 case: Murtaz Zodelava, Lasha Beridze, Guri Zhvania and Irakli Chkhvirkvia.

Papuashvili called on everyone to acknowledge the crimes they committed against their homeland.

“Those who participated in the failed violent attempt to overthrow the government on October 4 and are currently serving sentences are, first and foremost, prisoners of the shamelessness of foreign forces. They were encouraged, a campaign was waged for months, and Salome Zourabichvili was portrayed as the legitimate president. Diplomats and foreign politicians visited her. They posed with her against the backdrop of the presidential flag, and the result was that radical groups were encouraged to storm the presidential palace.

These people were abandoned in prison and are serving their sentences. The radicals who fled the scene are now at peace, outside prison, while others are prisoners because of their shamelessness.

When we talk about Zodelava and the others who requested plea agreements, expressed remorse and apologized for their crimes, these people are in prison over October 4 because of their shamelessness. If they acknowledge their crimes in time and are released, they will pave the way for the other prisoners who are in prison because of their own shamelessness.

I will tell these people one thing: no one anywhere in the world is questioning whether October 4 was a peaceful or violent protest. Everyone knows very well that it was violence, an assault and a crime against Georgia.

I call on everyone to acknowledge what they did against their homeland and take responsibility, including for ensuring that they will never commit such a crime against the country again, and the state will show leniency toward them.

You remember the encouragement coming from Brussels. The only people who now need them to remain in prison are those members of the European Parliament who use their names in resolutions and during debates. Today, they are weapons in the hands of foreign states, governments and groups against the country. They should understand this and not allow themselves to be used as weapons by people such as Rasa Juknevičienė and others who pursue a policy hostile toward Georgia,” Papuashvili said.

For reference, those convicted in the October 4 case - Murtaz Zodelava, Lasha Beridze, Guri Zhvania and Irakli Chkhvirkvia - have requested plea agreements.

According to the Tbilisi City Court verdict, Lasha Beridze and Murtaz Zodelava were each sentenced to seven years in prison, while Guri Zhvania and Irakli Chkhvirkvia were each sentenced to five years in prison.