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Five people accused of organizing coup in Georgia arrested

07 October 2025 14:18 (UTC +04:00)

On October 4, five members of the organizing committee of the protest held in Tbilisi — representatives of the United National Movement Party, Irakli Nadiradze and Murtaz Zodelava, Colonel Lasha Beridze, Secretary General of the “Agmashenebeli Strategy” party Paata Manchgaladze, and leader of the “Rustaveli Avenue” movement Paata Burjuladze — have been placed under pre-trial detention, APA’s local bureau reports.

This ruling was announced by the Tbilisi City Court.

Those individuals are accused of violently overthrowing the constitutional order in Georgia or calling for the change of state power, as well as organizing, leading, and participating in group violence, and attempting to seize a strategically important facility. If found guilty, they face up to 9 years of imprisonment.

The prosecutor in the case, Vaja Todua, stated that the evidence confirms that the events of October 4 were not spontaneous but organized according to a plan. He requested the court to impose pre-trial detention on the accused due to the risk of their fleeing, committing new crimes, and destroying evidence.

The accused stated that they do not consider themselves guilty of the charges brought against them.

Jamila Babayeva

Georgia protest arrest United National Movement Irakli Nadiradze Murtaz Zodelava Lasha Beridze Paata Mancqaladze Paata Burculadze Tbilisi constitutional order violence change of government crime court prosecutor Vaja Todua pre-trial detention October 4 events