Four convicted in the 4 October unrest to be released in November under plea deals

Murtaz Zodelava, Lasha Beridze, Guri Zhvania and Irakli Chkhvirkia, convicted in the 4 October case, have reached plea agreements.

Judge Mzia Lomtatidze approved the plea agreements today.

All four individuals have been convicted, each having pleaded guilty to the charges against them at today’s hearing.

Under the plea agreements, Zodelava and Beridze will leave prison on 4 November, Irakli Chkhvirkia on 6 November and Guri Zhvania on 16 November.

Tbilisi City Court had sentenced Murtaz Zodelava and Lasha Beridze to seven years in prison each. Guri Zhvania had been charged under Article 225(2) of the Criminal Code, which covers participation in group violence.

Irakli Chkhvirkia had been charged under Article 19 and Article 222(2)(a) of the Criminal Code, covering a group attempt to seize or block strategic facilities or facilities of special importance. He had also been charged under Article 225(1). Chkhvirkia and Zhvania had been sentenced to five years in prison each.