“We had no involvement in anything other than taking the photo. I have always said that I supported the rally, but I am not the organiser,” said Paata Manjgaladze, a member of the Strategy Agmashenebeli party, during the trial.

As Manjgaladze emphasised, he does not plead guilty to any of the charges.

“First and foremost, I apologise and thank those who stand by me. However, I do not feel guilty of any of the accusations levelled against us. I am a constitutionalist, and I am fully aware of when and how I acted. ‘Power has been usurped, and peaceful change is necessary.’ I have never said anything beyond that, and I continue to hold the same position now.

Our only goal was peaceful change. I was with these people and acted peacefully and constitutionally; I did nothing beyond that. Not a single person came out for any position or power. Love for the homeland and for freedom motivated people to gather, and they will do so again if this injustice persists. Our motivation is not to destroy anyone; it is to restore power to the people, to those it rightly belongs to. Georgian citizens were present at that rally, demanding change through peaceful protest.”

We were not an organised group; nothing connected us except a shared image. I do not feel guilty in any way. I have always stated that I supported the rally, but I was not the organiser,” said Manjgaladze.

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.