“I saw that the fence was broken. I climbed over to speak to the riot police. Murtaz and I tried to stop them to prevent a confrontation,” said Paata Burchuladze, leader of the Rustaveli Avenue movement, during his trial.

According to Burchuladze, the Georgian Dream government seeks to portray those attending the court proceedings as terrorists.

“I want to tell you what a historic day October 4 was. For the first time in Georgia’s history, citizens from all regions gathered together. We were there because we felt a threat, and we held a national assembly. We adopted a joint declaration. Georgia is on the brink of destruction, and it needs to be saved. It won’t be long before scientists and historians declare this day a day of victory.

If I didn’t know who I am, I might think I was a terrorist. The Georgian Dream wants to depict court attendees as terrorists. I have dedicated my life to serving children and young people; some might say I did so abroad, but I have always supported the youth. Would you believe that I would call anyone to stab or kill? Would you believe that? I have dedicated my entire life to helping children.

I saw the fence was broken. I climbed over to speak to the riot police. Murtaz and I tried to stop them to prevent a confrontation. Is that an incitement to violence? They sprayed me once, then again, and a third time. I felt sick and was hospitalised. A young police officer arrived, accompanied by seven or eight officers. Am I Bin Laden? Medical staff measured my blood pressure. They stood with rifles in hand. And then you might wonder why people dislike the police. Once you served the law; now you serve the regime. If you see a terrorist in me, I am ready to face accountability. And even if I am not a terrorist, I am still ready to accept punishment,” he declared.

The Tbilisi City Court has ordered the detention of Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze, the organisers of the October 4 protest rally, as a preventive measure. The October 4 rally organisers are accused of inciting a violent overthrow of Georgia’s constitutional order and attempting to topple the government. Additionally, they face charges of organising, leading, and participating in acts of group violence. These crimes carry a penalty of up to nine years in prison.