“Many of you, including myself, got disappointed that we failed to reach the ultimate goal, and we know about the provocation that was organized against our people at the Atoneli Palace,” said Paata Burchuladze, leader of the Rustaveli Avenue movement, during his court process.
Paata Burchuladze said he would not “speak precisely” about the developments today but remarked that “time would come soon to shed light on that.”
Burchuladze stated that the peaceful overthrow successfully took place on October 4.
“What happened on October 4, and I would urge the prosecutor to listen. It is the first time that I am given the opportunity to speak after my detention. The term ‘peaceful overthrow’ always irritated the Dream, and this is exactly why they brought us for trial. They want this phrase to be conveyed as a violent act, but I want to tell you, Your Honor Judge, that peaceful overthrow was successful on October 4 at the National Assembly at Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue.
Everyone acknowledges that no violence occurred. Georgian citizens unanimously re-elected and toppled the unlawful government, the Russian oligarch’s illegitimate regime. You should seek a response on what happened at Atoneli Residence from those in the so-called government.
My friends, have you ever thought that when the so-called government speaks about October 4, it only mentions the foiled revolution at Atoneli Palace and never mentions what happened on the territory of Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue? It is because our national assembly of hundreds of thousands of people confirmed an absolute failure of the dictatorship, and they were unable to stage a provocation there. No one would say that there were calls for violence.
On October 4, we were all invited to the National Assembly. This was announced via TV channels and was written on invitation cards signed by me. My professional career and life are public. Everyone knows my civic position, my activities, and my creative work. I have served my country all my life – from the stage, charity, or public work. Now they put forth absurd accusations – that I allegedly called on people for violence.
It is obvious to everyone why they do it. The Dream attempts to declare patriotism as a crime, while their behavior, namely, treason, as heroism. On October 4, for the first time in history, the National Assembly was held thanks to the Georgian people. This was truly an assemblage, where Excellency, the Georgian people, expressed their will to defend the Constitution of Georgia. Over 250,000 people, which is an unprecedented number, came to Rustaveli Avenue.
Georgia was represented there not only from cities and regions but also from every village and including from Abkhazia and Samachablo. There were many immigrants who arrived in Georgia for that special occasion.
Also, representatives of all ethnic minorities residing in Georgia attended the assembly. Many of you, including myself, got disappointed that we failed to reach the ultimate goal, and we know the provocation that was organized against our people at the Atoneli Palace. I will not speak about the developments precisely today because I have been cut off from the outer world since my detention and lack information, but the time will come soon to clarify all this. However, we can be proud of what we achieved – with our unity, enthusiasm and patriotism. We, the Georgian people, managed to do what the gang of the oligarchy was unable to do and will never manage, even if it spends the entire 7 billion. Therefore, remember that after the October 4 National Assembly, we are not fighting against an illegitimate government, but a gang of usurpers is fighting against the people of Georgia who are in power,” he said.
Paata Burchuladze read out the Declaration, which he introduced to the October 4 rally participants on Freedom Square. According to him, traitors should bear responsibility instead of innocent people, children who were “abducted from streets, houses, families.”
“They serve evil from shadows with persecution, intimidation and subordination. This was the list of perpetrators that was read from the stage and for which we happened to find ourselves in prison. However, be sure that these perpetrators will be held accountable before the law and the Georgian people. Our plan was to hold a peaceful meeting at Atoneli Street, with the participation of the assembly delegates and most likely, we also expected law enforcers, and after that a huge crowd of people would demand handing over the key of the Presidential Palace, which would ultimately happen peacefully if not the provocation which the Dream organized against the Georgian people and as a result of which many innocent people are kept arrested. My support to all political prisoners, they should immediately be released,” he said.
Paata Burchuladze noted that not a single word uttered on October 4 contained a call for violence.
“The confirmation of this is that we were there in the company of children and grandchildren. Everything we were doing was a peaceful expression, the right granted by the Constitution. Our aim was and remains the same – the establishment of democratic governance in Georgia, change of the government seized from the Georgian people, seized rights and return of power to the people. October 4 was not a day of failure, but the day of unity, taking over the power by society peacefully and legitimately, and the day of standing together in difficulty. It is a day of victory over evil.
Examine, and you will discover what seems unusual to me, that for the first time in the history of protests, nobody has seen uninterrupted footage of drones depicting how many people attended the National Assembly. The peak number was observed at around 7 p.m., with approximately 250,000 people at the site. Many people joined later. Maybe everybody knows that those drones suspiciously got lost that day. I suspect that intelligence services shot down drones belonging to three media outlets: “Netgazeti”, “Project 64”, and the publication “Mautskebeli”. Only one drone was found without the memory card. Radio Liberty published an article on this issue and I urge you to read it.
The Dream wanted to prevent us from seeing the real picture, to prevent us from seeing each other, because there were so many of us. This was the maximum that the junta could do to obstruct the National Assembly. They also put the navigation system out of order – it indicated Rustaveli Avenue as Tbilisi airport and vice versa. This is likely a sabotage committed not only against the gathering of people, but also against the security of the country, which must, definitely be responded to in the future. There were more people on the streets than at the Russian special operation, the so-called elections. October 4 convinced us that we are the vast majority, and we see our strength, Georgia’s strength. The power is in people, in free individuals instead of weapons, rubber sticks, or pepper sprays. That day confirmed the so-called government’s illegitimacy, and the Georgian people, the source of power, did that. October 4 will be recorded in Georgian history not as the so-called election day of the Dream, but as the day of their removal,” he said.
According to Paata Burchuladze, some bribed or foolish politicians attempt to undermine that day.
“In fact, we witnessed that we have many patriots, heart-hearted individuals. Regrettably, we have quite enough traitors. I ask all participants that when slaves of the oligarch refer to Atomeli provocation as a failed revolution, always respond that the main event that happened that day was what happened on Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square, where the Georgian people removed Kotsis from the government and adequately responded to their illegitimacy. I repeat that on October 4, we protested against their illegitimacy, cruelty, and illegality, while following the National Assembly, a group of bandits, who exist only through the violent part of the police, are now fighting against the legitimate people’s government.
On October 4, not only a rally but the National Assembly of Georgia was held and everybody who participated in this historic event is proud. This was the assembly where the voice of Georgia was loudly heard – freedom is the choice of Georgia, and freedom is Georgia’s future.
In conclusion, I only listed several right undermined by this illegitimate government, and I would add that the right to a fair court is also violated. I would not bother you with explanations of why this is so. You know it better than I. Simply, I would tell you, Your Honor, that I understand your condition and forgive you.
My fellow warriors, my Georgians, I am proud that I am one of you. On November 28 and whenever necessary, be on Rustaveli Avenue. The fight for our country’s freedom should be to the end,” he concluded.
