Prosecutor’s Office dismisses “disinformation” surrounding Akhalaia conviction; charge relates to incitement to overthrow constitutional order

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia has responded to media reports regarding the convicted former Minister of Defence Bachana Akhalaia.

According to an official statement issued by the Prosecutor’s Office, allegations that Bachana Akhalaia was charged with publicly calling for the overthrow of Bidzina Ivanishvili are entirely false and constitute deliberate disinformation.

“We would like to clarify once more for the benefit of the public that, according to the indictment, a pre-trial hearing was held at Tbilisi City Court on February 16, 2026, regarding the criminal case against Bachana Akhalaia. While addressing the court, Akhalaia stated: ‘This government must be overthrown, as quickly and brutally as possible, by any form and by any means. This is the only way forward, and we, myself, you, and anyone else, have a legitimate right to do this, and the most conscientious among us have an obligation to do so.’

Consequently, his actions, amounting to a public call to overthrow the state government and violently alter the constitutional order of Georgia, were legally classified under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, an offence punishable by one to three years in prison. Following these proceedings, Tbilisi City Court found Bachana Akhalaia guilty on July 6, 2026, and sentenced him to two years and six months behind bars,” the statement from the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia read.