Lawyer says his defendant had no role in Presidential Palace storming; he helped impaired-vision Burchuladze

“Lasha Beridze has no connection whatsoever to the damage of the Presidential Palace fence, the attempted seizure of the Presidential Palace as a strategic facility, or the organisation of group violence. He merely expressed his political views and opinions in the public space and committed no further criminal acts under the Criminal Code,” stated Ramaz Chinchaladze, lawyer for Lasha Beridze, who was detained in connection with the October 4 case.

According to him, when specific individuals came forward and told journalists they were organisers, it was a performance.

“Whatever statement is made in front of television cameras, the Criminal Code requires that a person’s actions contain the elements of a crime. If you tell me that Lasha Beridze incited someone to group violence, no such facts exist. Merely making a statement in front of cameras that ‘we are the organisers’ is not sufficient grounds to declare someone guilty. Lasha Beridze himself had no connection whatsoever to the fence; he only led Paata Burchuladze out of the Presidential Palace, whose vision had been impaired due to pepper spray.

Lasha Beridze took no further action there beyond expressing his political views in the public sphere. Consequently, I may have no questions for the expert, since Lasha Beridze has no connection either to the fence or to any other matter,” the lawyer stated.

For reference, the trial of politicians detained in connection with events that unfolded near the Orbeliani Presidential Palace on October 4, Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, Lasha Beridze, Irakli Shaishmelashvili, and five other individuals, is underway, examining the prosecution’s evidence. Today, experts are being questioned at the proceedings. None of the accused considers himself guilty. Paata Burchuladze is once again not attending the proceedings. The state prosecution is charging them with crimes under several articles, including public incitement to violently change Georgia’s constitutional order or overthrow state authority, as well as organising and directing group violence.