Former Georgian Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison after being found guilty in a case related to remarks he made in court about overthrowing the government.
The verdict was delivered by Romeo Tkeshelashvili of the Tbilisi City Court.
Akhalaia was convicted over a statement made during court proceedings in which he said: “I believe Bidzina Ivanishvili and his government should be overthrown.”
Akhalaia did not attend the sentencing hearing and therefore did not exercise his right to make a final statement before the court delivered its verdict.
Prosecutors charged him under Article 317 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which criminalizes public calls for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and the state government. The offense carries a maximum sentence of up to three years’ imprisonment.
