October 4 unrest case: Convicted rioters confess and express remorse as Appeals Court approves plea deals

Giorgi Chakhunashvili and Zakro Albutashvili, convicted for their roles in a group attempt to seize a strategic facility of vital importance and participation in mass violence, have admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and formally petitioned the Prosecutor’s Office for plea agreements,” the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia said.

The law enforcement agency confirmed that motion requests for plea bargains regarding the two convicts were submitted to the Tbilisi Court of Appeals, which subsequently approved the deals.

“Convicts Zakro Albutashvili and Giorgi Chakhunashvili, alongside five co-defendants, were found guilty of the charges by the Tbilisi City Court on 19 June 2026 and each sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Under the terms of the newly approved plea bargain, Giorgi Chakhunashvili’s sentence has been commuted to three months’ custodial imprisonment and three years’ probation. Regarding Zakro Albutashvili, his original term was commuted to one year in prison alongside a three-year suspended sentence.

Furthermore, based on a separate prosecution motion, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals approved a plea agreement for Nika Gventsadze, who was likewise convicted of group participation in violent disorder and attempted seizure of a strategic facility of vital importance.

On 7 May 2026, the Tbilisi City Court convicted Nika Gventsadze and others under Article 19-222 (Part 2, Sub-paragraph ‘A’) and Article 225 (Part 2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, handing down a five-year prison sentence.

Under his finalised plea agreement, the sentence was commuted to one year’s imprisonment and three years’ probation,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.