A number of individuals detained in connection with the “October 4 case” who had previously entered into plea agreements left Gldani Prison in Tbilisi today, October 16. According to TV Pirveli, those already released include:
- Kakha Kvachantiradze;
- Misho Tolordava;
- Davit Giunashvili;
- Gia Tolordava;
- Yuri Lomidze;
- Giorgi Talakhadze.
“I won’t say anything new—the whole country knows what kind of government we have. I’ll put it briefly, philosophically: being a ‘Kotsi’ [a supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party] is shameful, truly shameful. I wish freedom to all political prisoners—and not only political prisoners, but to all patriots and decent people. <…> Sometimes a tactical retreat is necessary to achieve a strategic goal, that’s what I want to say. [And that strategic goal] is an independent, democratic Georgia,” Kakha Kvachantiradze, one of the released prisoners, told reporters.
On June 24, the court delivered its verdict in the fourth of five severed proceedings related to the “October 4 case.” All 13 defendants were found guilty. They were sentenced to prison terms; however, based on plea bargains struck with the prosecutor’s office, 12 of them were freed just a few months later.
Simon Makharadze, Kakhaber Kvachantiradze, Gia Toloraia, Mikheil Toloraia, Avtandil Topchishvili, Yuri Lomidze, Davit Giunashvili, Giorgi Talakhadze, Beka Machavariani, Giorgi Kirvalidze, and Koba Epitashvili were sentenced to one year of actual imprisonment in exchange for pleading guilty. They will also spend another three years on probation.
Saba Kordzaia also accepted a plea bargain; however, as he had already been convicted in a separate, independent case, his prison term was set at one and a half years rather than one year. Manuchar Mikeladze rejected a plea deal. The court sentenced him to five years in prison.
As a reminder, on October 4, 2025, alongside municipal elections across Georgia, a mass opposition demonstration dubbed the “National Assembly” took place in downtown Tbilisi. A declaration announcing the termination of the government’s mandate and the start of a peaceful transition period was read out during the rally. Shortly thereafter, a faction of the opposition and its supporters marched on the presidential residence, where protesters breached the fence and attempted to storm the Orbeliani Palace. The rally was dispersed by riot police. Subsequently, the organizers and dozens of participants were detained and sentenced to prison terms.