Georgian Parliament Speaker says October 4 events aimed at “bloodshed”, thwarted by security services

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said that people were being mobilised for “bloodshed” during the events of October 4, and only the swift action of Georgia’s security services and citizens prevented a violent outcome.

Speaking about the role of Paata Manjgaladze, one of the leaders of the domestic opposition, Papuashvili noted that Manjgaladze, along with other organisers, appeared on stage and urged the crowd, claiming the government had been “overthrown”. He criticised the Public Defender’s assessment that the charges against Manjgaladze lack evidence as “disappointing”.

“Paata Manjgaladze, like other organisers, was standing on the stage at Freedom Square. They declared that the government had been overthrown and personally ordered my arrest by the police or other law enforcement agencies. Clearly, no one would believe such clowns, yet they had gathered 7,000 people there. Police and security forces acted preventively and in a timely manner. The State Protection Service performed at the appropriate level. There was even hand-to-hand combat for those defending the President’s residence to prevent what they announced as ‘Nepal’. Each of these individuals openly called for bloodshed in Georgia, and I remind you, the EU supported them”, the speaker said.

He added that if the coup had succeeded, the organisers would have assumed positions of power.

“People were being led toward bloodshed, gathered for violence, and even received backing from the European Commission’s spokesperson. Only our security services and our citizens stopped it. Everyone saw the crowd on stage. Manjgaladze and others brought people to organise ‘Nepal’ - 7,000 people assembled to carry it out. They were instructed to attack the President’s residence, and they moved toward it. Some lack the capacity to take responsibility, but if you take such steps, you must answer for them. Everyone knows what ‘Nepal’ meant and what would have happened. That’s why people were sacrificed, arrested, or threatened, and now they complain because it failed. The EU supported this attempt to overthrow the government on October 4, and it failed”, Papuashvili continued.

Regarding Manjgaladze’s legal responsibility, Papuashvili emphasised that it would be determined by the courts.

“It’s clear he did not personally attack me, but he called for my arrest. The court process is ongoing. The charges will determine the weight of his responsibility. An independent court, which has repeatedly proven its fairness, will decide this”, he concluded.