Today, September 14, the Court of Appeals of Georgia began hearing the case concerning the so-called “peaceful change of power” on October 4. The majority of those convicted in this case are politicians. It was announced today that a plea agreement will be reached with one of the defendants, Nikoloz Gventsadze.
The defendants, with the exception of the pardoned Tornike Mchedlishvili, were escorted into the courtroom one by one by guards, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Georgian Service.
The first to enter was world-renowned opera singer and one of the organizers of the October 4, 2025 demonstration, Paata Burchuladze; he was greeted with applause by those in attendance. He was followed by Nikoloz Gventsadze, Irakli Chkhvirkia, Lasha Beridze, Guri Zhvania, Irakli Nadiradze, and Paata Manjgaladze.
Prosecutor Vazha Todua filed a motion with the judge stating that a plea agreement had been reached with the convicted Nikoloz Gventsadze.
“The terms are as follows: one year of prison time and a three-year suspended sentence,” the prosecutor later explained to reporters.
Nika Gventsadze is a prominent marketing professional who served as a marketing manager at Geocell for many years. He taught at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) and graduated from the Free University’s Business School (ESM).
Video footage presented by the prosecution shows him near the Presidential Administration; in one segment, he approaches the metal perimeter barriers and shakes them alongside others, though he does not enter the courtyard.
A separate hearing will be held at the Court of Appeals to finalize the plea agreement. If the agreement is approved, Gventsadze will be released from prison on October 7.
As for the other defendants, Lasha Beridze, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, Irakli Nadiradze, and Paata Manjgaladze were each sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment. Tornike Mchedlishvili, Guri Zhvania, Nika Gventsadze, and Irakli Chkhvirkia each received 5-year sentences.
Irakli Shaishmelashvili, a former officer of the Special Tasks Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, was sentenced in absentia to 2 years in prison. He is currently living in exile.
Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, and Irakli Nadiradze were found guilty of:
- attempting to seize and block facilities of strategic and special importance; organizing and leading collective violence;
- as well as violently changing Georgia’s constitutional order and overthrowing state power.
Irakli Shaishmelashvili was convicted of making public appeals for the violent change of Georgia’s constitutional order or the overthrow of state power.
Lasha Beridze was charged under two articles and was convicted on both counts. These are:
- attempting to seize and block facilities of strategic and special importance;
- organizing and leading collective violence;
Irakli Chkhvirkia, Nika Gventsadze, and Tornike Mchedlishvili faced charges under two articles: attempting to seize facilities of strategic and special importance and participating in collective violence.
Guri Zhvania was convicted solely of participating in collective violence.
Paata Manjgaladze was convicted of organizing collective violence.
Opening statements were scheduled for today’s hearing; however, the plea agreement reached between Nikoloz Gventsadze and the prosecution procedurally postponed the start of proceedings. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, plea deals may also be finalized with other defendants in this group.
In total, charges were filed against 64 individuals in connection with the “October 4 case.” Following plea agreements, 22 people were released directly from the courtroom. Another 12 defendants will be released after serving a one-year prison sentence. Fifteen individuals were sentenced to custodial terms.
As a reminder, on October 4, 2025, most opposition parties and their supporters boycotted municipal elections and gathered at Freedom Square in Tbilisi, calling for a “peaceful overthrow of the government.”
An attempt by a section of the demonstrators to breach the presidential residence led to clashes with riot police and subsequent mass arrests.