The leader of the Rustaveli Avenue movement and opera singer Paata Burchuladze expected that the special forces would come over to his side during the storming of the Orbeliani Presidential Palace on October 4. This was stated by the son of the oppositionist Shukri Burchuladze.
"Paata has publicly said that high-ranking officials and special forces officers are contacting the organizers who want to take the side of the people because they are tired of everything. Paata was sure that they would go over to the side of the people. This did not happen. Paata did not for a second admit that there would be violence at the rally," Burchuladze Jr. said on TV Pirveli.
Radicals stormed the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi on October 4, the election day. The police had to use special means. 75-year-old Paata Burchuladze was hospitalized due to pepper gas poisoning.
Later, the Georgian Prosecutor's office charged five organizers of the protest. Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze and Lasha Beridze are accused of attempting to forcibly change the constitutional order and calling for the overthrow of the government.
These crimes are punishable by imprisonment for up to 9 years.