The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced the defendants in the October 4 case. The decision was made by the Judge Irakli Khuskivadze.

Among those found guilty and given 7-year prison sentences each are Paata Burchuladze [prominent opera singer / activist who organized the rally]; Murtaz Zodelava and Irakli Nadiradze from the United National Movement [both identified as rally organizers]; retired Colonel Lasha Beridze; and Paata Manjgaladze [from the Strategy Aghmashenebeli], who denied being among the organizers.

Burchuladze, Zodelava, and Nadiradze had been charged with “attempted seizure or blockade of strategic and particularly important facilities, committed by a group” (Article 222²), “organization and leadership of group violence” (Article 225¹), and “incitement to change the constitutional order of Georgia through violence” (Article 317).

Beridze was charged under Articles 222² and 225¹, while Manjgaladze was charged under Article 225¹.

Former Interior Ministry official Irakli Shaishmelashvili, currently abroad, who was charged with publicly calling for the violent overthrow of Georgia’s constitutional order and Government, was sentenced to 2 years in absentia.