Georgian State Security Service has detained wanted Georgian citizen in neutral zone between Georgia-Armenia border checkpoints in connection with October 4 case

The State Security Service of Georgia on Friday detained a wanted Georgian citizen in the neutral zone between the Georgia-Armenia border checkpoints in connection with the October 4, 2025 case, which involves allegations of organised violence, an attempted seizure of the Presidential Palace, and preparations for acts of sabotage.

Lasha Maghradze, the First Deputy Head of the Service, said the detention followed a complex special operation prepared over several days with the involvement of different structural units of the Security Service.

“Employees of the State Security Department of the State Security Service of Georgia, as a result of a complex special operation that had been prepared over the past four days with the involvement of various structural units of the Service, detained a wanted Georgian citizen in the neutral zone between the Georgia-Armenia border crossing points”, Maghradze said.

“The individual is accused of acquiring and storing a large quantity of firearms, ammunition, and explosive devices with the purpose of organising acts of sabotage, in parallel with the organised group violence and attempted seizure of the Presidential Palace on October 4, 2025”, he continued.

The State Security Service reported that the individual had been charged in absentia on October 6, 2025, under Article 236, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, related to the illegal acquisition, possession, and storage of firearms, ammunition, and explosive materials.

“As a reminder, on October 4 of last year, employees of the State Security Service discovered firearms, ammunition, and explosive substances with detonators hidden in a special cache located in a forested area near Tbilisi”, Maghradze said.

The Service said that investigators are also examining possible links with Bachana Akhalaia, Paata Burchuladze, and other persons allegedly involved in planning the incident.

“In addition to this legal qualification, the investigation is continuing to obtain additional evidence regarding the preparation of acts of sabotage or illegal border crossing. The investigation is also working to establish the contacts of the detained person and those who allegedly gave him criminal instructions with Bachana Akhalaia, Paata Burchuladze, and other individuals involved in organising the crime of October 4, 2025”, he concluded.

According to Imedi TV, the Georgian State Security Service detained Beka Chulukhadze.

On October 4, 2025, large-scale protests in Tbilisi escalated into a dramatic confrontation, as a group of radical demonstrators tried to storm the presidential palace. The unrest occurred on the same day Georgia held municipal elections.

Authorities detained five opposition figures, including Paata Burchuladze. Government officials described the events as a failed coup attempt orchestrated with foreign backing. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the protests “an attempted overthrow of the constitutional order”.