Tbilisi court detains organizers of October 4 attack on president’s residence

The Tbilisi City Court has placed under pretrial detention the organizers of the October 4 attack on the residence of the President of Georgia, which left around 30 police officers injured.
The leaders of the “Rustaveli Avenue” civic movement — opera singer Paata Burchuladze, former Chief Prosecutor Murtaz Zodelava, opposition United National Movement member Irakli Nadiradze, one of the leaders of the opposition Agmashenebeli Strategy party Paata Manjghaladze, and retired Colonel Lasha Beridze — are charged with attempting to seize and blockade strategic and special-purpose facilities, organizing and leading group violence, as well as calling for the overthrow of Georgia’s constitutional order and state authorities.
The accused face up to nine years in prison. Judicial proceedings are also expected against 13 other participants in the attack, who were arrested on October 6.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, two additional participants in the riots remain at large.