Bacho Akhalaia, former Defense Minister under the United National Movement government, who is in pretrial detention over his alleged role in the October 4 unrest, has been charged in a new case as the State Security Service of Georgia accuses him of incitement to overthrow the government.
The charge stems from a statement Akhalaia made during a closed court hearing in the October 4 case. His wife, Ani Nadareishvili, posted an audio recording of his remarks on social media on March 8. In the recording, Akhalaia is heard saying, “I believe that [Bidzina] Ivanishvili must be overthrown by all possible means.” Nadareishvili has not disputed the recording’s authenticity.
“If force is needed, he must be overthrown by force. Together with Ivanishvili, the Russian tentacles in Georgia must be overthrown on the widest possible scale. This is the only solution, the only way to end the hell in which Russia has kept us for more than 200 years. We will overthrow Ivanishvili – we will definitely overthrow him,” he said, according to the recording.
According to Nadareishvili, the audio was recorded during the closed court hearing. Only lawyers, prosecutors, and court members can be present at such hearings.
Akhalaia was arrested in late December 2025 on allegations of leading the October 4 events in Tbilisi, when a group of protesters, upon calls by election-day rally organizers, tried to occupy the presidential palace in Tbilisi, but were repelled by police. Up to 60 people were arrested in the following weeks. He remains in pretrial detention as the hearings continue.
Akhalaia, a controversial figure during the United National Movement’s rule, has been convicted of multiple offenses related to his official duties after Georgian Dream came to power in 2012. He was arrested in 2012 and released in 2022, having been found guilty of abuse of power, organizing torture, and sexual abuse in separate trials.
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