Appeals Court in Georgia Begins Reviewing Sentences in October 4 Protest Case

On September 14, the Court of Appeals of Georgia began reviewing the case concerning the events of October 4, 2025, when participants in an opposition protest allegedly attempted to bring about a "peaceful transfer of power." The majority of those convicted in the case are opposition politicians.

Paata Burchuladze, Nikoloz Gventsadze, Irakli Chkhvirkia, Lasha Beridze, Guri Zhvania, Irakli Nadiradze, and Paata Manjgaladze were brought to court. Tornike Mchedlishvili was not present at the hearing, having previously been pardoned.

Those present greeted Burchuladze—a world-renowned opera singer and one of the organizers of the October 4 protest—with applause.
At the start of the hearing, it was announced that the prosecution had reached a plea agreement with Nikoloz Gventsadze. Under its terms, the politician is to serve one year in prison, followed by a three-year suspended sentence. A separate hearing to approve the agreement will be held at the Court of Appeals; if the court approves it, Gventsadze will be released from prison on October 7.

Video footage presented by the prosecution shows Gventsadze near the presidential administration building. In the recording, he approaches a metal barrier and, along with other participants, rocks it back and forth, but he does not enter the administration's courtyard.

The other defendants in the case received sentences ranging from five to seven years. Specifically, Lasha Beridze, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, Irakli Nadiradze, and Paata Manjgaladze were each sentenced to seven years. Tornike Mchedlishvili, Guri Zhvania, Nikoloz Gventsadze, and Irakli Chkhvirkia were sentenced to five years. Another defendant—Irakli Shaishmelashvili, a former employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Department for Special Assignments—was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison; he is currently abroad.

The defendants faced charges related to the events of October 4, including attempted seizure and blockade of strategic facilities and sites of special importance, organizing or participating in group violence, and publicly calling for the violent alteration of the constitutional order and the overthrow of the government. Some of the convicted individuals were found guilty on multiple counts, while others were convicted on only one.

The opening statements were scheduled for the first hearing of the Court of Appeal, but the proceedings were postponed due to the finalization of a plea agreement with Gventsadze. According to Radio Liberty, similar agreements may be reached with other defendants as well.

In total, 64 people were charged in connection with the events of October 4. Following plea agreements with investigators, 22 defendants have already been released from custody. Another 12 are due for release after serving one year in prison. Fifteen defendants received prison sentences.

The events that gave rise to the case took place on October 4, 2025. Opposition parties boycotted the municipal elections and gathered supporters at Freedom Square in Tbilisi, calling for the "peaceful overthrow of the government." Some demonstrators attempted to break through to the presidential residence, leading to clashes with special forces and mass arrests.

Последние новости
Three Georgian special forces officers have been sentenced to five years in prison each for assaults committed during pro-European protests
Human rights
Three Georgian special forces officers have been sentenced to five years in prison each for assaults committed during pro-European protests
13 November 2026

The three officers were convicted for attacking Guram Rogava, a journalist for the TV channel Formula, and Zviad Maisashvili, a participant in the demonstrations. The assaults took place in November 2024 on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, during the dispersal of protests against the authorities' decision to halt the country’s path toward European Union accession.

Politics
"Deprived of a voice where there was a deafening silence": Armenia reacts with irony to CSTO decision
13 November 2026

Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Alen Simonyan has commented on the republic’s loss of its voting rights within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), pointing to the alliance’s inaction during the escalation of the conflict with Azerbaijan.

Oil refinery catches fire in Volgograd following drone attack; queues form at gas stations
Chronicle of Wars and Crimes
Oil refinery catches fire in Volgograd following drone attack; queues form at gas stations
13 November 2026

On the morning of November 13, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a massive aerial attack had been repelled. According to the ministry, 1,198 Ukrainian drones were "intercepted and destroyed" overnight over 17 Russian regions, as well as over occupied Crimea and the Black Sea. The affected Russian regions included the Astrakhan, Volgograd, and Rostov oblasts.

Aliyev and Pashinyan Discuss TRIPP in Dublin: Railways, Transit, and Trade
Politics
Aliyev and Pashinyan Discuss TRIPP in Dublin: Railways, Transit, and Trade
12 November 2026

On November 12, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Dublin on the sidelines of the 9th summit of the European Political Community. The talks focused on the development of transport links between the two countries, the implementation of the TRIPP project, trade, and issues related to border delimitation.