World-renowned opera singer and opposition politician Paata Burchuladze has published a letter from prison, where he is serving a sentence for “organizing group violence, calling for the overthrow of the government, and attempting to seize and block a strategic facility.” Burchuladze addressed reports that several defendants in the case concerning the events of October 4, 2025, are entering into plea agreements to secure their release.
“I want to address the issue of release under plea agreements for those detained at the National Assembly of Georgia on October 4, which has sparked major controversy and fierce debate.
At every court hearing, I said, and I will repeat it now: I am the sole organizer of that National Assembly, and no one else. I am proud of that day and its historical significance. I believe it was an exemplary day of our unity and struggle against the regime, which awakened dormant resistance and showed the entire world that the protest has not disappeared, that we continue to fight, and that Georgian Dream does not represent the will of the Georgian people.”
According to Burchuladze, the struggle always demands self-sacrifice, and he knows that the political prisoners take pride in “having fought and continuing to fight for the liberation of their homeland.”
“And to you, the ‘well-wishers’ outside the prison walls, remember: political captives do not need hypocritical lamentations and ostentatious tears from those around them! They are heroes, but that does not mean they must inevitably languish in captivity for years without trying to rid themselves of this lawlessness. Especially since we all know: a plea agreement with Georgian Dream is not repentance, but an opportunity to break free from unlawful detention,” wrote the opera singer and politician.
The 71-year-old Burchuladze added that today “the regime is on the verge of collapse,” making victory inevitable.
Family’s Reaction
The opposition figure’s son, Shukri Burchuladze, commented on the letter from prison. He effectively did not rule out the possibility of his father entering into a plea deal with investigators, but added that he envisions such a scenario only after other defendants in the case are released.
“Let’s wait for now… Let all the others get out first, all the rank-and-file participants who are unlawfully behind bars; let them be freed by any means, just as Paata said, that is, by reaching an agreement. Paata is urging them to sign a plea deal, and what happens next, we will decide later: where Paata Burchuladze will be more valuable for the country’s freedom and its peace—in prison or at liberty… What the future situation will look like—perhaps Georgian Dream will no longer exist at all, and the need for a plea bargain will vanish entirely,” he noted.
Shukri Burchuladze also stated that, in his view, it is the duty of every organizer and leader to remain behind bars until everyone else is released: “This is my personal opinion, not Paata’s stance.”
Authorities’ Reaction
According to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Paata Burchuladze’s letter is “a clear preview.” The head of government is convinced that the organizer of the October 4 protest is preparing to strike a deal with investigators in order to be released as well.
“Naturally, he does not want to sit in prison either, and in this manner, he essentially signaled that he will ultimately admit guilt. That would be welcome, and I myself urge him to confess to the crime he committed—in that case, an appropriate step will be taken on our part, and he will leave the correctional facility.
Even though these individuals—Zodelava, Burchuladze, and others—committed an extremely grave crime by attempting to overthrow the government, we are prepared to take a reciprocal step even under these circumstances. I am glad that an admission has been signaled on his part, and of course, if that step is taken, an adequate response will follow from our side,” Kobakhidze stated.
At the same time, the prime minister commented on the remarks made by Paata Burchuladze’s son, characterizing such an attitude toward a parent as “an attitude in the spirit of Pavlik Morozov”: “Having a son like that must be very hard.”
Context
As a reminder, on October 4, 2025, alongside Georgia’s municipal elections, a mass protest took place in central Tbilisi, dubbed by the opposition as the “National Assembly.” A declaration was read out at the rally proclaiming the termination of the government’s mandate and the commencement of a peaceful transition period. Shortly thereafter, part of the opposition and its supporters marched toward the presidential residence, where protesters tore down a fence and attempted to break into the Orbeliani Palace. The rally was dispersed by riot police.
The organizers of the “peaceful transfer of power” were detained and sentenced to prison terms. The maximum sentences (7 years of imprisonment each) were handed down to Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Lasha Beridze, Irakli Nadiradze, and Paata Manjgaladze. Dozens of protesters gathered near the presidential residence also ended up behind bars.
Exactly one year after those events, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia announced that defendants Murtaz Zodelava and Lasha Beridze were prepared to enter into plea agreements with investigators: they admitted their guilt and could be released as early as November 2026.