Tbilisi Court of Appeals has approved plea agreements with four more defendants in the October 4, 2025 election-day unrest case – Davit Sturua, Davit Zhgenti, Konstantine Kokaia, and Kakhaber Mzhavanadze – who are expected to leave prison in December.
This means that up to 50 out of more than 65 persons charged in connection with the unrest have been released or had their sentences significantly reduced through plea agreements, presidential pardons (three defendants), or, in the case of one defendant, a fine.
The four were sentenced to five years in prison under Tbilisi City Court’s June 19 ruling after being found guilty of “participation in group violence” and “attempted seizure of a facility of strategic or special importance.” Under the newly approved plea agreements, they pleaded guilty, which formed the basis for the deals.
They were among seven defendants tried in connection with the October 4 events. The group also included creative director and musician Ia Darakhvelidze, who was convicted in absentia on the charge of “group violence,” and pediatrician Giorgi Chakhunashvili, who has already left prison under the plea deal.
Another member of the group, Zakro Albutashvili, who was convicted of the same two charges, entered a plea agreement in September. Under the deal, his sentence was reduced to one year in prison and three years of probation. He was released in October.
Separately, Zurab Chavchanidze, who was sentenced to five years in prison by the Tbilisi City Court on June 24 on the same charges, was released on November 6.
Unrest erupted in Tbilisi on October 4, 2025, the day of partially boycotted municipal elections. Following a call by organizers of a rally promoting what they described as a “peaceful revolution,” a group of protesters attempted to occupy the presidential palace in downtown Tbilisi and were repelled by police.
Up to 65 people have been charged in connection with the events, most of whom were placed in pretrial detention.
Of those convicted, 29 people received full prison sentences. However, up to 13 people, including Murtaz Zodelava and Lasha Beridze, convicted of organizing and leading “group violence” of the October 4 unrest, have entered plea deals with the prosecutors and were released or are expected to be freed soon.
Another 12 people received reduced prison terms under plea agreements, while 22 received fully suspended sentences. One convicted person was fined.
Additionally, 2 defendants whose prison terms had been reduced, as well as another who had received a full prison sentence, were among the nine protesters pardoned by Georgian Dream-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili on August 28.
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