The 14 citizens arrested in connection with the October 4 case Vladimer Gvelesiani, Sergo Megrelishvili, Zurab Chavchanidze, Giorgi Rurua, Amiran Dolishvili, Anton Vardanidze, Giorgi Korkia, Aleksandre Chilachava, Genadi Kupreishvili, Lasha Ivanidze, Levan Jikia, Sulkhan Tugushi, Khvicha Gogokhia, and Ramaz Mamuladze will remain in custody. The decision was made by Judge Valerian Bugianishvili.
The detainees face charges under two articles:
- Participation in organized group violence (Article 225, Part 2)
- Attempted seizure and blockade of strategic and critically important facilities, committed by a group (Articles 19–222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a”)
None of the detainees admit guilt. One of them, Zurab Chavchanidze, is on a hunger strike as a form of protest.
According to the prosecutors, the case consists of 39 volumes, and the witness list they submitted includes 140 people. The court fully admitted the evidence presented by the defense so far.
As for the defense, some attorneys requested that all evidence presented by the prosecution be deemed inadmissible, while others requested exclusion of specific documents only.
However, Judge Bugianishvili admitted all evidence presented by both sides and moved the case to the substantive hearing stage.
At the same time, on the floor above, a separate pretrial hearing was held for 13 other individuals detained in connection with the October 4 case. Judge Nato Khujadze reviewed motions to change their preventive measures; however, all of them Simon Makharadze, Kakhaber Kvachantiradze, Gia Toloraia, Mikheil Toloraia, Avtandil Topchishvili, Iuri Lomize, Davit Gyunashvili, Giorgi Talakhadze, Beka Machavariani, Manuchar Mikeladze, Saba Kordzaia, Giorgi Kirvalidze, and Koba Upitashvili were also remanded to custody.