The Georgian Prosecutor's Office accused the opposition television channel TV Pirveli of spreading "further disinformation" after airing a report about Tamar Bezhuashvili, the prosecutor in the case of the attempted storming of the presidential palace. The office stated that this is the second time in the past six weeks that the channel has produced material related to the business activities of the prosecutor's father and is "completely unfoundedly" attempting to link it to her professional work.
The Prosecutor's Office also cited the report's respondents, Giorgi Berishvili and Teimuraz Karmazanashvili, emphasizing that they are making defamatory statements about Bezhuashvili and her family members. According to the office, they are themselves defendants in criminal cases and have previously been charged with tax evasion and fraud.
"It is completely unclear how this is connected to the criminal case regarding the storming of the presidential palace." Instead of a competently considered criminal case in court, based on the adversarial principle, the media is deliberately attacking the prosecutor and waging a completely unfounded disinformation campaign.
The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia will not tolerate such attacks on prosecutors in high-profile criminal cases aimed at discrediting the prosecutor and the office, and will ensure an appropriate response. We also note that such a groundless and targeted campaign will not influence or hinder the administration of objective justice," the office said in a statement.
This refers to the investigation into the events of October 4, 2025, when a protest in Tbilisi, on the day of municipal elections, escalated into an attempt to storm the presidential residence on Atoneli Street. One of the rally's organizers, Paata Burchuladze, then announced the formation of the National Assembly and declared the transfer of power "into the hands of the people," calling on security forces not to interfere with the protesters and to detain representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Later, Murtaz Zodelava, one of the leaders of the National Movement, addressed the protesters, calling for them to direct the "male force" of the protest to the presidential residence. Clashes ensued: security forces used water cannons and tear gas, and protesters threw stones and set barricades on fire.
Following the events, Burchuladze was transferred to the Healthycore Clinic, and the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the arrest of five organizers of the protest: Burchuladze himself, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze. They face charges related to calls for violent change of government and organizing group violence. All defendants face up to nine years in prison. On October 7, the court ordered their pretrial detention.
