The founder of the youth movement Dafioni, 19-year-old Zviad Tsetskhladze, along with seven other individuals arrested by the police, has been imprisoned as a preventive measure. The decision was made by Irakli Khuskivadze, a judge at the Tbilisi City Court.
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The Prosecutor's Office has accused Zviad Tsetskhladze of organizing and leading group violence, a crime punishable by imprisonment for 6 to 9 years. Members of the Strong Georgia coalition, 53-year-old Vefkhia Kasradze and 50-year-old Vasil Kadzelashvili, have been arrested on the same charges.
Additionally, 25-year-old Tornike Goshadze, 20-year-old Nikoloz Javakhishvili, 34-year-old Insaf Aliyev, 19-year-old Irakli Miminoshvili, and 20-year-old Giorgi Giorgadze are accused of participating in group violence, a crime punishable by 4 to 6 years of imprisonment.
The Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested all eight defendants between December 4 and 5.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, during a rally on Rustaveli Avenue, the defendants organized and participated in group violence, resulting in multiple injuries, damage to private and corporate property, and harm to the infrastructure of Tbilisi City Hall.
"The accusations in the indictment are entirely fabricated, with elements so exaggerated that one would be astonished - 'armed attack,' 'organization of explosions.' This boy is only 19 years old; even Bin Laden might envy such allegations. This is not a legal process but a political one. Consequently, the decision on his imprisonment or release will depend on the direction of political developments in the country," Zviad Tsetskhladze's father, Zurab Tsetskhladze, told journalists.
The police have detained 16 individuals for organizing, leading, or participating in group violence and for publicly calling for violent actions during the ongoing protests. Among those detained are actor Andro Chichinadze and comedian Onise Tskhadadze. The court has not yet ruled on preventive measures for the remaining defendants.
