I address those currently in penitentiary institutions for acts of violence against the country: do not trust the ambassadors of any nation, nor foreign politicians—they will all deceive you and leave you behind in prison like cowards - Shalva Papuashvili

"For those who acknowledge their crime against the country and take responsibility—pledging that, at the instigation of foreign representatives, they will never again inflict such harm upon their own nation—the state will, of course, be lenient and humane," stated Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, to journalists.

According to Papuashvili, the organizers of the events of October 4th have cowardly managed to get out of prison, while leaving behind those whom they had persuaded to engage in violence—individuals who are now serving their sentences. "I want to tell everyone one thing: do not trust foreign powers, foreign politicians, foreign diplomats, or representatives of foreign organizations. Why? Haven't you seen how they incited violence? A European Commission spokesperson even welcomed the violence that was announced for October 4th. To this day, no representative from the European Commission has offered an apology. They egged them on to commit a crime, and then left them behind to serve long prison sentences.

Ultimately, the only entity that will stand by them is the Georgian state. The Prosecutor's Office is agreeing to their requests for plea bargains. This is precisely the Georgian state’s approach. We do not treat them the way their foreign instigators did—those who pushed them onto the barricades and then left them to languish in prison.

We treat them as children of our own country, because it is a matter of genuine concern to us when someone has to serve time in prison. Therefore, for those who admit their guilt before the nation and take responsibility—pledging that they will never again inflict such harm upon their own country at the instigation of foreign representatives—then, of course..." ...the state will be lenient and humane toward him.

"Once again, I address those currently in penitentiary institutions due to acts of violence against the country: do not trust the ambassadors of any nation, nor foreign politicians—they will all deceive you. The only entity that will stand by your side is the Georgian state. This has been confirmed many times to date. Foreigners will cowardly abandon you in prison, whereas Georgia—and the Georgian government—will stand with you and act humanely toward everyone who takes responsibility for their own actions," noted Shalva Papuashvili.