Eight more defendants in the “October 4 storming” case have been sentenced to five years in prison. Another six defendants reached a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office.
The guilty verdict was announced on June 22, 2026, by Judge Romeo Tkeshelashvili — shouting and protests erupted in the courtroom from the defendants and their supporters.
“This will come back to you like a boomerang, Russians!” shouts rang out in the courtroom.
This group of defendants in the case concerning the events of October 4, 2025, included 14 individuals.
Six of them — Giorgi Korkia, Giorgi Rurua, Khvicha Gogokhia, Levan Jikia, Lasha Ivanadze, and Sergo Megrelishvili — reached a plea agreement with the prosecution and were released right in the courtroom.
The eight individuals sentenced to five years in prison are:
- Zurab Chavchanidze (“Batumi Standard-bearer”), 56 years old;
- Amiran Dolishvili, 21 years old;
- Vladimir Gvelesiani, 43 years old;
- Alexander Chilachava, 44 years old;
- Gennady Kupreishvili, 44 years old;
- Sulkhan Tugushi, 41 years old;
- Ramaz Mamuladze, 44 years old;
- Anton Vardanidze.
They were charged with participating in group violence and attempting to seize a strategic facility. The court sentenced them under these specific charges.
At today’s hearing, Zurab Chavchanidze stated that he does not plead guilty to the charges. According to him, despite this, he had approached the prosecutor’s office requesting a plea agreement, but his request was denied.
