The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has formally charged Bacho Akhalaia, former Defence Minister of Georgia, with inciting the change of Georgia’s constitutional order by force and attempting to overthrow the state government.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation revealed that during an open court session at Tbilisi City Court on February 16 this year, Bacho Akhalaia publicly called for the violent alteration of Georgia’s constitutional framework and the removal of the government.

“Bacho Akhalaia has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to inciting the change of Georgia’s constitutional order by force and attempting to overthrow the government. The law stipulates a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment,” the Prosecutor’s Office stated.