Prepared by Messenger Staff
Prosecutor's Office Denies Akhalaia Charged Over Ivanishvili Statement
The General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia said disinformation has been deliberately spread in recent days claiming that convicted Bachana Akhalaia, Georgia's former Defense Minister and Interior Minister, was charged with publicly calling for the overthrow of Bidzina Ivanishvili, calling the claim incorrect.
The agency said Akhalaia was not charged over a statement against Ivanishvili, but with calling for the overthrow of state power and the violent change of Georgia's constitutional order.
"Once again, we explain to the public that according to the indictment against Bachana Akhalaia, on February 16, 2026, at a preliminary hearing in the Tbilisi City Court on Bachana Akhalaia's criminal case, during his speech Bachana Akhalaia stated that 'this government must be overthrown as quickly and harshly as possible. In any form and by any means. This is the only way and we, me, you, and anyone else have a legitimate right to do this, and the most conscientious among us have an obligation to do this.' Accordingly, his action, calling for the overthrow of state power and the violent change of Georgia's constitutional order, was qualified under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which is punishable by imprisonment from 1 to 3 years," the Prosecutor's Office statement said.
On July 6, 2026, the Tbilisi City Court found Akhalaia guilty and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, the agency noted.
'Drone Threat' Alert Issued Twice in Abkhazia
A "drone threat" alert was issued twice in Georgia's Russian-occupied Abkhazia on July 7, according to Russian media citing the press service of the region's so-called "defence ministry." Local Abkhaz media have not reported on the warnings.
Russian media outlet Interfax reported the alert was first issued at 07:00 local time and lifted two hours later, then reinstated later in the day. The de facto ministry's press service said "air defence forces and duty units of the armed forces are monitoring the airspace."
Sputnik, citing the same source, reported that residents were urged to leave open areas, warn others, avoid being visible to drones, and not attempt to bring them down themselves.
That evening, Abkhazia's de facto defence authorities issued a separate warning telling residents not to publish photos or videos of air defence systems, drone flight paths or strike aftermath online, calling it "categorically prohibited." It said such material could help the "enemy" locate defence systems and plan further strikes.
Drones were also detected in Abkhazia during a "massive raid" in March, following weeks of unconfirmed drone sightings reported by multiple outlets.
