Khutashvili and Mumladze Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Damaging Cameras

The defendants were willing to compensate the cost of the damaged cameras, 12,100 GEL, and enter a plea bargain with the prosecutor's office. They had even confessed to the charges for this purpose. In February, the prosecutor confirmed that negotiations for a plea agreement were underway between the parties, but the defendants were ultimately denied.

"No one can accuse me of supporting these protests, but this is not a state-minded approach. A  general decision has been made not to sign a plea agreement," stated Gela Nikolaishvili, Khutashvili's lawyer.

"For reasons unclear to us, the prosecutor's office refused the plea agreement. They explained that they are not applying leniency towards Daniel and Guram because it's characterized by 'some context,' though this context was never mentioned. Daniel is a 22-year-old man, a father of a 3-year-old child, who has been working physically without a single day off since reaching adulthood. He supports his 3-year-old child and family and was their sole breadwinner," said Omar Purtseladze, Daniel Mumladze's lawyer.

"The sanction ranged from 3 to 6 years, and the court determined the minimum sentence, three years. The court considered the defendants' circumstances, their confession, their family situation, and set the sentence at 3 years instead of 6," said prosecutor Tamar Iakobidze.

The lawyers requested the judge to impose a conditional conviction for part of the sentence, but this was denied. The judge explained the refusal by stating: "As you know, unfortunately, violent actions directed against state interests have become widespread."

Guram Khutashvili and Daniel Mumladze are colleagues and friends. They worked together at the Zodiaqo restaurant, located approximately 300 meters from the Parliament. Khutashvili and Mumladze were arrested in December 2024.

Protests demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners have been ongoing in Tbilisi for over six months. The mass demonstrations began on November 28 after Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the issue of opening negotiations for Georgia's accession to the European Union would not be on the agenda until the end of 2028. More than 50 participants of the protests have been arrested on various criminal charges.