Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has charged former Defense Minister Bacho (Bachana) Akhalaia with calling for the violent change of the constitutional order and the overthrow of state authorities.
In a statement, the Prosecutor’s Office said the charge stems from remarks Akhalaia allegedly made during an open court session at the Tbilisi City Court on February 16.
Investigation says Akhalaia, while addressing the court, “publicly called for the violent change of the constitutional order of Georgia and the overthrow of the state government.”
He has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to public calls for violent actions against the constitutional order and state authorities. The offense carries a penalty of up to three years of imprisonment.
No further details have been provided regarding the specific content of Akhalaia’s remarks or the timeline of subsequent legal proceedings.
The case adds to a series of high-profile legal actions involving political figures in Georgia, amid ongoing domestic and international scrutiny over the country’s political climate and judicial processes.
