The Tbilisi City Court has decided to extend Georgian bass Paata Burchuladze’s detention.

The court decided to extend custody for ten people accused of organizing protests in Tbilisi during a rally on Oct. 4.

The court argues that Burchuladze and the others organized violence against the ruling regime.

In a statement during the court hearing the Georgian bass said, “What happened on October 4, and I would urge the prosecutor to listen. It is the first time that I am given the opportunity to speak after my detention. The term ‘peaceful overthrow’ always irritated the Dream, and this is exactly why they brought us for trial. They want this phrase to be conveyed as a violent act, but I want to tell you, Your Honor Judge, that peaceful overthrow was successful on October 4 at the National Assembly at Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue.” He added that there was no violence at the protest and noted that the fight for the country’s freedom should be to the end.

Burchuladze was been arrested back in October by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and was accused of inciting violent actions during the Oct. 4 protest in Tbilisi.

Burchuladze was a prominent bass in the opera world who performed at many of the great opera houses around the world. He has recently become a major political figure who established the Georgian Development Foundation, a civic movement that was expected to turn into a political party ahead of the scheduled October 2016 parliamentary election.

The current Georgian government under Irakli Kobakhidze has a penchant for raiding the homes and arresting political opposition, including former prime ministers, accusing them of “trying to overthrow the government.” Under Kobakhidze and that of his Georgian Dream party’s rule, the police has also been cracking down on protestors, accusing them of trying to overthrow his government and pelting them with water cannons and tear gas. Kobakhidze’s government,  is also known for torturing protestors and for wide-ranging authoritarian policies.

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