Attack on Presidential Palace: Georgian authorities detain five individuals on charges of attempting to overthrow constitutional order

Georgian law enforcement officers on Sunday detained five individuals, including Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze.

“They [the detained opposition leaders and activists] are charged with calling for the violent change of the constitutional order of Georgia or the overthrow of the government, as well as organising, leading, and participating in group violence. These crimes carry a prison sentence of up to nine years”, said Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

According to evidence gathered by law enforcement, including video materials disseminated through various channels, “calls of a violent nature were voiced by the organisers during the rally held at Freedom Square [in the capital city of Tbilisi], and such calls were being voiced even before October 4 [rally]”, the Georgian Deputy Minister noted.

The Ministry had repeatedly called on rally participants to ensure that the assembly and manifestation remained peaceful and within the boundaries set by law.

However, following the violent calls made at the rally, “several participants and organisers of the rally demolished the fences of the Presidential Palace located on Atoneli Street and attempted to seize the Presidential Palace”, Darakhvelidze noted.

The investigation is being conducted under several articles of the Georgian Criminal Code, including Articles 317, 322, 222, 225, and 187, which pertain to various crimes related to actions against the state, violence, and property damage.