Former Defense Minister of Georgia Arrested: Details

The Tbilisi City Court has imposed pre-trial detention on Bacho Akhalaia, who served as Minister of Defense during Mikheil Saakashvili's presidency and is currently under preliminary detention on charges of organizing an attack on the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi on October 4. This was reported by Georgia's Public Broadcaster's First Channel.

The court hearing took place behind closed doors at the request of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSS). Akhalaia disagreed with the proceedings and left the courtroom as a sign of protest.

SSS agents arrested the former minister on December 25 at his residence in Tbilisi. Investigators assert that Akhalaia was the main organizer of the attempted attack on the Presidential Palace on October 4.

According to the SSS, law enforcement agencies have examined his correspondence with other organizers and participants of the attack on the Presidential Palace, as well as his mobile phone calls. The SSS clarified that the IP address through which Akhalaia communicated with his accomplices belongs to his wife, Ani Nadirashvili.