Former Georgian Defense Minister Accused of Organizing Storming of Presidential Palace
Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia has been detained in Georgia. He is accused of organizing a violent protest that took place in Tbilisi on October 4. The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) claims that Akhalaia remotely coordinated the actions of the protesters who attempted to storm the presidential residence.
According to the SSG, an analysis of internet traffic revealed numerous contacts between Akhalaia and other individuals involved in the case, including Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, and Lasha Beridze.
The protest took place alongside local elections boycotted by the opposition and was billed by organizers as an attempt at a "peaceful revolution." Clashes with police, which the authorities characterized as an attempted coup, resulted in the arrest of 64 people, including the organizers. Those arrested include Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze.
Bacho Akhalaia, who previously held high-ranking positions in the security forces, has already served 10 years in prison and, after his release, left the country, returning periodically to his homeland.
