The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office indicted former Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia on the charge of supervising and organizing group violence. The charge under Part 1, Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia pertains to up to 9 years of imprisonment as a punishment measure.

“The State Security Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, determined through ongoing investigation that indictee Bachana Akhalaia, with the use of technical mobile communication devices, organized and personally supervised criminal activities of Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, Lasha Beridze and other individuals. He supervised the organization of group violence, violent change of constitutional order, calls for state coup and the process of seizure of strategically important facilities.

Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava and Irakli Nadiradze, at Akhalaia’s direct instruction and organization, with the aim to mobilize citizens who are aggressive towards the government and engage them in violent actions, several days before local elections, made public statements calling for a violent change of constitutional order and the government’s overthrow.

The charged individuals called on society for the need of a revolution with the participation of citizens aggressive towards the government. According to their statement, they would jointly overthrow the government, speaking about the need for mass involvement and unification of certain groups of society.

On Election Day, October 4, the charged individuals and others decided to organize group violent activities, which were led by Bachana Akhalaia. In the evening of October 4, Paata Burchuladze introduced an action plan to citizens assembled at Freedom Square for a rally, based on which they had to instantly detain governmental representatives and engage in various violent activities.

The Prosecutor’s Office will apply to the court within the terms set by the law for the imposition of preventive measures against Bacho Akhalaia.

For context, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) arrested former Defence Minister of Georgia Bacho Akhalaia (2009-2012) today in connection with the October 4 case. The agency identified Bacho Akhalaia as “the leader and principal organiser of the criminal events.”