Judge Giorgi Gelashvili has sentenced seven defendants, including doctor Giorgi Chakhunashvili, to five years in prison in a case linked to the October 4, 2025 protest rally in Tbilisi.
The defendants sentenced to five years in prison are Davit Zhgenti, Kakhaber Mzhavanadze, Davit Sturua, Konstantine Kokaia, Giorgi Chakhunashvili, Zakro Albutashvili, and Ia Darakhvelidze.
Chakhunashvili, who had previously been released on bail, was detained in the courtroom following the verdict. Darakhvelidze, who was also released on bail, did not attend the hearing as she is currently abroad. The remaining defendants had been in pretrial detention for eight months.
The seven were charged under Part 2 of Article 225 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns participation in group violence. Prosecutors additionally charged six of the defendants under Subsection A of Part 2 of Article 19-222, which concerns an alleged attempt by a group to seize or block facilities of strategic and special importance. Darakhvelidze was not charged under the latter article.
A total of 64 people were charged in the October 4 case.
Earlier this year, Judge Irakli Khuskivadze sentenced 10 defendants in the same case. Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze each received seven-year prison sentences. Irakli Chkhvirkia, Tornike Mchedlishvili, Nika Gventsadze, and Guri Zhvania were each sentenced to five years in prison. Irakli Shaishmelashvili received a two-year sentence in absentia and remains wanted by authorities.
Twenty-two defendants reached plea agreements with prosecutors, admitted the charges against them, and received three-year suspended sentences. They were released from the courtroom following the approval of the agreements.
The case stems from events that took place during an opposition rally in Tbilisi on October 4, 2025. Opposition parties and supporters who were boycotting local elections gathered in Freedom Square and called for what organizers described as the “peaceful overthrow” of the government.
Prosecutors state that some demonstrators attempted to move toward the presidential residence on Atoneli Street, leading to clashes with law enforcement officers. The incident resulted in criminal charges against dozens of participants.
