“On October 4, the authorities lured their own people into a trap. This is extremely grave. They surprised the people with a fence and those riot police who were hidden inside the Presidential Palace,” stated Nugzar Tsiklauri, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, during his appearance on PalitraNews.

According to Tsiklauri, the authorities did not stop people heading towards the Presidential Palace and took no preventive measures whatsoever.

“The name of the former head of the State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili, was mentioned. The personal details will probably become known later, and only when the organisers themselves speak about it will we receive a convincing answer. It seems there were some contacts with specific representatives of the authorities, and the belief, the hope, that riot police would come over and lay down their arms. The expectation was that this process would begin and end on the 4th; that was the foundation of the entire assumption.

I think deception is the right word. Political desires are one thing, even noble aims are one thing, but as you’ll recall, the road to fiasco is sometimes paved with good intentions. The Prime Minister spoke with a smile about how they didn’t stop people heading towards the Presidential Palace, when, by their logic, a crime had already been committed.

It was announced that we would proceed to seize the Presidential Palace, take the golden key, and that people were marching without any interference. The authorities showed no inclination whatsoever to prevent this. Yet, according to the logic of that day, every policeman and every member of the riot police should have been present around Freedom Square. When they arrived, as you saw for yourselves, all that was left was a toppled fence, easily collapsible.

Village fences are sturdier than the fence of the strategically important Presidential Palace; this raises a great many questions. However, it’s completely clear to me, especially after the words that were spoken: ‘We surprised them there.’ They surprised the people with this fence and with those riot police who were hidden inside the Presidential Palace,” Nugzar Tsiklauri noted.

Furthermore, Nugzar Tsiklauri believes the protests should continue and that the parties need better coordination.

“We must begin turning a new page. In this respect, I think the protests should continue. In reality, nothing has changed. The main idea is alive; people come out for this cause and will continue to do so. Political parties now need better coordination. As far as I’m aware, there’s already talk today about a united opposition march planned for October 26. Clearly, unity is better than fragmentation; our coat of arms reads ‘Unity’ after all, but it’s impossible for you and me to go together if you’re going to Zugdidi and I’m going to Telavi. It won’t work that way,” Nugzar Tsiklauri declared.