Court Orders Pretrial Detention for Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, December 29, 2025
Former Georgian Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia made sharp accusations against investigators and prosecutors during a court hearing that ended with a decision to place him in pretrial detention, as authorities continue to investigate his alleged role in the October 4 events.
During the hearing, Akhalaia strongly objected to the proceedings being held behind closed doors. Addressing the prosecutor, he said, "I do not negotiate with terrorists. Pass this message on to whoever instructed you. I will dig you out of your grave."
Akhalaia claimed that officials from the State Security Service pressured him to testify against friends by threatening to arrest his wife, Ana Nadareishvili. He said he was unable to understand why the hearing was closed when, in his view, the case had not yet properly begun.
"Why should a case that has not even started be closed?" Akhalaia said. "You want people not to attend the hearings so they will not hear the information. I still do not even understand whether my wife is charged or not. I oppose closing the hearing. I want everyone to know what evidence you have."
According to Akhalaia, both he and his wife were detained together, and while inside the SSS building he was told that Nadareishvili would be arrested unless he testified against individuals including Paata Burchuladze. "When they tell me they will arrest my wife and leave my children without parents, should I say something I did not do?" he said. "Anyone who makes such demands is a terrorist."
He also questioned the involvement of his family in the case. "What do my wife and children have to do with this?" Akhalaia said. "You are terrorists for taking my wife and children hostage. And I do not negotiate with terrorists."
Akhalaia's lawyer, Malkhaz Velijanashvili, criticized both the closure of the hearing and the substance of the charges. He said Nadareishvili still has the status of an accused, since the prosecution against her has not been terminated, and therefore should not have been removed from the courtroom.
"There was no disclosure of personal data," Velijanashvili said. "By that logic, almost any case could be closed. This violates the principle of openness."
Velijanashvili also questioned the strength of the evidence, warning that ordinary online behavior could be misinterpreted. "There is not even a confirmed phone call, only alleged internet activity," he said. "You might like a post online, and that could be classified as communication leading to arrest."
According to the defense, investigators have failed to establish which device was used, whether a call was made, or when any communication allegedly occurred. "No one can confirm that there was actual communication," Velijanashvili said. "They describe it as systematic simply because these people know each other."
The lawyer added that a briefing by the SSS itself suggests Akhalaia was offered leniency. "He was told he would not be arrested and his child would not be left alone if he confirmed certain issues," Velijanashvili said. "He did not refuse to testify. He said he would answer questions in the presence of a lawyer."
Prosecutor Tamar Bezhuashvili responded that the prosecution could not discuss the details of the evidence because the hearing was closed. She said the motion to close the session was filed due to the involvement of multiple individuals, including SSS representatives, and sensitive investigative materials.
"The case includes witness interrogation records, expert conclusions, and a phonoscopic examination," Bezhuashvili said. "There is evidence confirming telephone communications, and the charges are supported by that evidence."
The court ultimately granted the prosecution's request for detention. Judge Maia Melkadze ruled to impose pretrial detention on Akhalaia as a preventive measure, approving the motion submitted by the Prosecutor's Office.
Akhalaia has been charged in connection with the October 4 case under Article 225, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns organizing and leading group violence. The offense carries a possible sentence of up to nine years in prison.
The State Security Service alleges that Akhalaia was a key organizer of the October 4 events and that he coordinated actions through internet applications while maintaining contact with politicians already detained in the case. According to the SSS, between September 28 and October 4 there were 343 recorded internet sessions involving Akhalaia, including dozens of contacts with figures such as Murtaz Zodelava and Paata Burchuladze.
The SSS claims the final contact with Zodelava occurred nine minutes before Burchuladze delivered a speech that authorities say called for violence, and that the communication was made using an IP address registered to Nadareishvili.
In a statement released after the hearing, the SSS rejected Akhalaia's allegations as false and said his remarks were intended to mislead the public. The agency described his claims about threats against his wife and children as unacceptable and said they reflected only his personal character.
According to the SSS, investigators asked Akhalaia whether only he, or also his wife, had contact with other suspects. The agency said he was informed that if the communication was confirmed as his alone, his wife would likely face reduced legal risk. Despite this, the SSS said, Akhalaia refused to answer the question.
Following consultations with the Prosecutor's Office, Nadareishvili was released from detention, and her potential legal responsibility will be assessed later in the investigation. The SSS said this decision demonstrates that investigators acted within legal and ethical standards.
Akhalaia, however, repeated in court that he was asked to implicate others in exchange for his wife not being arrested. The case continues under closed proceedings as the investigation moves forward.
