Today, the preliminary court hearing for those detained in the October 4 case is being held at Tbilisi City Court. Murtaz Zodelava, who has been charged with three counts, including leading group violence, stated that he is ready to take full responsibility if the other detainees are released.
“These people, unlike me, are simple participants of the rally. I am facing three charges in this case, plus other charges in relation to Khabeishvili. Don’t consider these people together with me. I can take everything on myself if it brings some relief to them. This imprisonment shouldn’t be an end in itself…
There are 60 devastated families behind them. Why do you need so many detainees?! Blame me, I’m used to it and prepared for it. But these 60 people are suffering – along with their families, the elderly, minors. I won’t go into politics anymore.
You’ve accomplished your goals. The propaganda objectives have been achieved. I don’t even know these people; I met them only now. Turns out they are wonderful people. Look at them differently – they are Georgians too. Some sense should exist in every situation.
The authorities have completed their mission. We have no one left in this country to defend us anymore – even opposition representatives demanded that we be crushed, and they dragged these people down with us. No one stands up for the October 4 detainees – not NGOs, not the West, not the East. Give these ordinary people a chance to breathe. See them differently; don’t show sympathy toward us,” Zodelava said during the hearing.
A total of 64 people have been detained in connection with the October 4 events. Their cases have been divided into five parts.
Some are accused of participating in group violence; others of organizing such violence; some of blocking a strategic facility. Several detainees face multiple charges.
The Prosecutor’s Office accuses Murtaz Zodelava of committing three different crimes:
• Attempted seizure and blockade of strategic and critically important facilities, committed as a group (Article 19-222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a”);
• Organizing and leading group violence (Article 225, Part 1);
• Public calls for the violent overthrow of Georgia’s constitutional order and the government (Article 317).