The number of people detained in Georgia in connection with the violence during the protest that took place in Tbilisi on the evening of October 4 is rapidly growing. Forty-six detainees are charged with attempted seizure of a strategic and special-importance facility by a group of individuals and participation in group violence. The relevant articles of the Criminal Code of Georgia carry penalties of up to six years in prison.

Avtandil Surmanidze, a veteran of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, is among those detained. Several others are wanted.

On October 10, local media reported that seven detained demonstrators had been remanded in custody. Four more joined them today.

The court set bail for Ia Darakhvelidze, another participant in the October 4 protest, at 10,000 lari. The more lenient pretrial detention measure is due to the defendant's health issues.

The state prosecution is demanding the strictest pretrial detention measure for each of the defendants in this case. According to the prosecutor, there is a risk that the detainees could abscond, commit another crime, or destroy evidence.

The defense, for its part, requested that the defendants be released without pretrial detention, offering bail of 5,000 to 7,000 lari as an alternative. The defense insists that there is no evidence in the case.

As a reminder, the municipal elections, won by candidates from the ruling Georgian Dream party, took place amid mass protests. The situation became particularly tense in the evening, when protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace. Local media reported that water cannons and tear gas were used to disperse the protesters.