One of the key figures arrested on serious criminal charges in connection with the October 4 events Colonel Lasha Beridze, former Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces. Since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Batumelebi has published several interviews with Lasha Beridze, featuring him as a military analyst.
Old materials are still available on the website of Georgia’s Ministry of Defense, documenting Lasha Beridze’s visits to Afghanistan and his participation in meetings and award ceremonies related to training programs preparing Georgian troops for the ISAF mission.
Following the protest rally on October 4, 2025, Lasha Beridze was arrested on criminal charges. He is accused under Article 19-222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a” of the Georgian Criminal Code [attempted seizure and blockade of strategic and critical infrastructure, committed in a group], and Article 225, Part 1 [organization and leadership of group violence]. The charges carry a sentence of up to nine years in prison.
Lasha Beridze denies the charges.
