**Detained Protesters Challenge Charges in Court**
In a surprising move, actor Andro Chichinadze has defended himself and fellow protesters against charges of group violence during a court hearing. The 11 individuals, who were detained near the Parliament building, have been accused under Part 2 of Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
**Challenging the Charges**
According to Chichinadze, the prosecution’s accusations are flawed because they do not meet the criteria for group violence as defined in the Criminal Code. He read aloud from the article, which states that a crime is committed by an organized group if it is carried out in a coordinated manner over a certain period, with members who have conspired to commit one or more crimes.
**A Group Without Structure?**
Chichinadze pointed out that the code also defines a group with a structured form as not being randomly formed for the immediate commission of a crime. He argued that if the prosecutors can prove this, they will have done well. This implies that the protesters may be challenging the prosecution to show evidence of a pre-planned and coordinated effort among their members.
**Consequences of the Charges**
If convicted under Part 2 of Article 225, the individuals face imprisonment ranging from 4 to 6 years. The charges carry significant weight, and it remains to be seen whether the prosecution will be able to meet the burden of proof set out in the Criminal Code.
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