Georgian Prosecutor's Office charges Bachana Akhalaia with publicly calling for violent overthrow of country’s constitutional order and government

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has formally charged Bachana Akhalaia, the former defence minister under the previous United National Movement government, with publicly calling for the violent overthrow of the country’s constitutional order and government.

According to the investigation, the incident took place on February 16 of this year during an open court hearing at the Tbilisi City Court.

Prosecutors state that Akhalaia, while exercising his right to speak in court, made public statements urging actions aimed at violently changing Georgia’s constitutional system and overthrowing state authority.

Akhalaia has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to public calls for the violent alteration of the constitutional order and the overthrow of government.

The charge carries a potential sentence of up to three years in prison.