Plea agreements are set to be concluded with six additional defendants charged in connection with the events of October 4.
As emerged during a court hearing, plea agreements are currently being signed with six of the 14 defendants involved in this episode of the case: Giorgi Korkia, Giorgi Rurua, Khvicha Gogokhia, Levan Jikia, Lasha Ivanadze, and Sergo Megrelishvili.
The agreements are based on the defendants’ admission of guilt and their acceptance of the prosecution’s evidence as undisputed.
Plea agreements are not being offered to the remaining defendants in this episode — Zurab Tchatchvanidze, Vladimir Gevelesian, Amiran Dolishvili, Anton Vardanidze, Aleksandre Chilachava, Genadi Kupreishvili, Sulkhan Tughushi, and Ramaz Mamuladze — as they have not admitted guilt.
The cases of those who pleaded guilty have been separated into a distinct proceeding. Once the court approves the agreements reached between the parties, the defendants will be released directly from the courtroom. The process could be completed as early as tomorrow.
The prosecution is offering plea agreements involving three-year suspended sentences.
In total, 64 individuals have been charged in connection with the October 4 events. So far, plea agreements have been reached with 21 defendants.
The defendants in this episode were charged under Article 19-222(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, concerning the attempted seizure of a strategically and specially important facility by a group, and Article 225(2), participation in group violence. The charges carry a maximum penalty of six years’ imprisonment.
Header image: Reuters
