Bacho Akhalaia

Georgian president rejects politically motivated pardons

By | September 30th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , |

President Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has rejected a call by his predecessor Mikheil Saakashvili that it is a test of ‘decency’ to pardon three former top government officials who are convicted of crimes committed while in office. Saakashvili, who is now […]

Bacho Akhalaia sentenced to seven years in jail

By | October 22nd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–One of the strongmen in Saakashvili’s government was Wednesday sentenced to seven years and six months in jail in a case concerning beating of prisoners and a fatal shooting in 2006. As the judge announced the verdict there was noise […]

Supporters of controversial ex-official rally outside PM’s residence

By | October 20th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Supporters of Georgia’s former regime demonstrated outside the house of the prime minister on Sunday. Outraged passers-by confronted them, and several people were detained in the scuffle. The protesters demanded that the courts are freed from […]

Court adds to Bacho Akhalaia’s pre-trial detention

By | July 16th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Saturday added further pretrial detention for former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia for the murder of Sergo Tetradze. Akhalaia’s defense lawyers wanted the court to set a 30,000 lari bail, but the court decided on two months […]

Former defense minister must remain in detention, court rules

By | July 6th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court Saturday placed former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia in pretrial detention on new charges concerning the murder of Sergo Tetradze. Akhalaia’s lawyers wanted the court to set 30,000 lari bail, but the court decided to place […]

New torture charge against Bacho Akhalaia

By | July 3rd, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia on Wednesday brought further charges against former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, for abuse of power and organizing torture and sexual abuse. Akhalaia called the accusations a lie. The incident took […]

Georgian parliament to consider prosecution of one of their own

By | March 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Roland Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has asked parliament for its consent to start a criminal prosecution against one  parliamentarian, Roland Akhalaia. Parliament will announce its decision on Monday. MP Roland Akhalaia is father of Data […]

Two former counterintelligence officials arrested in Georgia

By | March 14th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , |

Guram Donadze was also questioned, but said he had nothing to do with the fake video. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Chief Prosecutor in Georgia has ordered the arrest of former officials at the Constitutional Security Department (CSD), after they were questioned about the cases against Bacho and Data Akhalaia. Former CSD head Levan Kardava and Giorgi […]

Bacho Akhalaia’s lawyer released on bail

By | February 26th, 2014|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , , |

Giorgi Oniani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has released the lawyer of a former defense minister against a 20 000 lari (USD 12 000) bail. Goga Oniani, a former high police official during Saakashvili who now is a lawyer representing the ex-minister Bacho Akhalaia, is charged […]

Former police official and Bacho Akhalaia lawyer detained

By | February 25th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

Giorgi Oniani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has ordered the detention of a lawyer for former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia. Giorgi Oniani is charged with abuse of power, falsification of evidence about especially grave crime and purposeful unlawful […]

Appeals court upholds partial acquittal of Bacho Akhalaia

By | February 15th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Bacho Akhalaia in Tbilisi City Court in February, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Appeals Court in Georgia has upheld a decision by Tbilisi City Court to partly acquit former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia in the so-called prison riot case. Tbilisi City Court acquitted Akhalaia in part of the case, but sentenced him to three […]

Further charges against two Saakashvili-era ex-officials

By | January 13th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia has presented new charges against former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia and Megis Kardava, a former chairman of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti police department in a case that deals with torture of prisoners. This will be […]

Bacho Akhalaia acquitted in abuse case, two others convicted

By | December 4th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia was acquitted in yet another trial, but remains in detention pending another court case. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Appeals Court in Georgia has acquitted former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, but sentenced the others who were charged in the same case to 3 years and nine months in jail. Bacho Akhalaia, Giorgi Kalandadze, former head of Joint Staff and Zurab […]

Rebellion at Public Defender’s office over Bacho Akhalaia visit

By | November 13th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Five of the Public Defender’s staff are out in a dispute about the conditions of former government officials in jail. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three employees at the Public Defender’s office in Georgia have resigned, and two have been fired, after disagreement over a visit to former prison minister Bacho Akhalaia in jail. Marina Gigineishvili, Amiran Nikolaishvili and Guram Bendiashvili, […]

Saakashvili pardons former minister

By | November 4th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili will pardon former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, who was recently sentenced to three years and nine months in jail. Saakashvili explains his decision in a long open letter, recalling the time when his government was […]

Bacho Akhalaia to ask the president for a pardon

By | November 1st, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia will send an appeal to President Saakashvili, asking him for a pardon. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia will send an appeal to the president asking to pardon him as soon as possible. Akhalaia, who faced a number of charges after the change of government, was acquitted in two of the cases, and sentenced to three […]

Bacho Akhalaia acquitted in abuse case

By | October 31st, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia was acquitted along with seven others for abuse of special unit employees. The prosecutor will appeal the ruling. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court found Bacho Akhalaia not guilty of abusing seven special unit employees, a case which has been under review for two months. The former defense minister was on trial for mistreatment and torture for political reasons of seven special […]

Bacho Akhalaia sentenced to three years, nine months

By | October 30th, 2013|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: |

Former Prison Minister Bacho Akhalaia on the day of his detention, November 7, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A court in Georgia has sentenced a former government minister to three years and nine months in jail for his role in a prison riot in 2006. Bacho Akhalaia, former Prison, Defense and Interior Minister, was charged together with Davit Chakua, Revaz […]

Change of prosecutor in Akhalaia case, again

By | October 8th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Prosecutor Ia Darjania asked to be taken off the Bacho Akhalaia case because of family connections. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There has twice been a change of prosecutor in the case against former prison minister Bacho Akhalaia for the 2006 prison riot. Prosecutor Ia Darjania on Monday asked the judge to replace her, because she cannot make independent decisions […]

Bacho Akhalaia to be questioned about Girgvliani murder

By | August 17th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Bacho Akhalaia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Law enforcers are considering another charge against former Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaia and want to question him about the murder of Sandro Girgvliani in 2006. Tbilisi Prosecutor Maya Mtsariashvili told journalists that in the course of the […]

Protester detained at Bacho Akhalaia trial released

By | August 15th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Giorgi Gabedava was detained Tuesday at the trial of Bacho Akhalaia, who by many is seen as responsible for the prison torture. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Front member Giorgi Gabedava, who was detained yesterday at a rally outside Tbilisi City Court, was today released and given a 100 lari (USD 60) fine. He was charged with petty hooliganism and admitted guilt. During the hearing, Gabedava […]

Three detained as anger boils over outside Akhalaia trial

By | August 14th, 2013|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: , |

Crowds awaiting the verdict in the case against Bacho Akhalaia. Many see him as responsible for the prison torture. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three people were Tuesday detained at a rally outside Tbilisi City Court where the case against ex-minister Bacho Akhalaia went on. In a few days, the court will announce its verdict in the final case against Akhalaia which deals with torture […]

Saakashvili ally and former minister acquitted

By | August 1st, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Close Saakashvili ally Bacho Akhalaia was partly acquitted, but some charges remain. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a controversial decision on Thursday, Tbilisi city court acquitted former defense and interior minister Bachana (“Bacho”) Akhalaia, of one of the charges against him. The acquittal relates to a charge of abuse of military personnel and illegal […]

Saakashvili ‘bought 25 000 SIM cards to build Facebook support’

By | March 21st, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , , |

Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri (left) and Defense Minister Irakli Alasania inspecting a military camp earlier this month. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Irakli Alasania Thursday told parliament that the defense ministry last year purchased 25 000 SIM cards for mobile phones in order to build up Facebook support before the election. Speaking during a meeting with the defense committee […]

Bacho Akhalaia moved back to scandalous prison

By | March 11th, 2013|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia on the day of his detention, November 7, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Former interior minister and close Saakashvili ally Bacho Akhalaia has been moved from a relatively privileged facility to Prison No 8 in north Tbilisi, notorious for numerous cases of torture and death. Akhalaia, who has been in detention since […]

Military tops enriched themselves: Alasania

By | March 7th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri (left) and Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government accuses former officials during Saakashvili’s time in power of having embezzled state money in order to purchase luxurious cars and unnecessary apartments. The apartments were discovered at military bases which are in a […]

Akhalaia to remain in detention

By | March 4th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Saturday held pretrial hearing in two of the five criminal cases currently brought against former defense minister Bacho Akhalaia to decide on preventive measures before the trial. For the third time, Akhalaia was given pretrial […]

Ex minister given further charges of torture

By | March 3rd, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prosecutor’s Office Saturday presented a fifth charge against close Saakashvili ally Bacho Akhalaia, this time about torture through abuse of powers. Those who were tortured were ‘punished’ for their political views, and the crime was […]

Ex minister charged with causing fatal prison riot

By | March 1st, 2013|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia will be charged with setting off a prison riot in 2006 which claimed the lives of seven prisoners. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former government minister and close Saakashvili ally will be charged with misconduct during the country’s largest prison riot in 2006 which caused seven deaths. The Prosecutor’s Office today presented details of the prison riot and charged Bacho […]

Akhalaia trial postponed because of new evidence

By | March 1st, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

The case of former government member Bacho Akhalaia and six others is the most controversial of the current trials.(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The trial of former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia and six others was rescheduled for today, because the judge had to make a decision about whether to allow evidence to be admitted. The new evidence was presented by the Prosecutor’s Office. […]

Ex interior minister in court, supporters rally

By | February 28th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia was back in court Thursday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The most controversial court case against former officials continued on Thursday, as ex interior minister Bacho Akhalaia made another appearance in the city court here in Tbilisi. The close Saakashvili ally is charged with abuse of powers, illegal […]

Controversial trial postponed again

By | February 21st, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

Bacho Akhalaia in Tbilisi City Court Feb. 20, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A trial drawing great public attention against former government officials was again rescheduled for February 28 by Tbilisi City Court on Wednesday. Tbilisi City Court held pretrial hearing for Bacho Akhalaia, a Saakashvili loyalist and former […]

Akhalaia expected in court today

By | February 20th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court today holds pretrial hearing in the case against Saakashvili loyalist Bacho Akhalaia and other former government officials. The hearing has been rescheduled several times on request by the Chief Prosecutor. Wednesday’s hearings […]

Are the trials against ex officials political revenge?

By | February 1st, 2013|Categories: NGO news|Tags: , |

Ex Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaia’s detention November 7, 2012. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Foreign diplomats in Tbilisi are concerned about the many speedy trials against former officials, saying the whole process looks like political revenge. The new government in Georgia has received seven thousand complaints from people who say they […]

Bacho wants to be tried by a jury

By | January 11th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The former Georgian defense minister Bacho Akhalaia who is now in detention facing three charges wants to be judged by a jury. Davit Dekanoidze, lawyer of Akhalaia, on Wednesday said at a press conference that his client wants his […]

Ukraine detains wanted Saakashvili ex-official

By | December 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Police in Ukraine have detained a former Georgian interior ministry official, who was announced wanted by Interpol and is sentenced to preliminary detention. Oleg Melnikov was detained in Kiev on grounds of information provided by Interpol […]

Georgia starts investigating prisoner abuse

By | December 5th, 2012|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Prosecutors in Georgia are preparing to press charges in several cases of prison abuse, based on a series of leaked videos which spurred a major scandal in September. Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili said at a press conference on Tuesday […]

New NGO to protect victims of government

By | November 30th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Ani Nadareishvili, wife of the detained former interior and defense minister Bacho Akhalaia, is founding a new non-governmental organization (NGO). The new NGO will request official statistics about the criminal cases recently from the interior […]

Ex-minister received death threats in prison

By | November 15th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The moving of former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia from one prison to another was done because other inmates had threatened to kill him, according to Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani. After Akhalaia was detained for abusing powers, illegal […]

Ex-minister moved to mafia prison

By | November 14th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

A detained former government official has been moved from a prison scandalized by revelations of torture to another prison, which is known for holding so-called thieves in law. Former interior minister Bacho Akhalaia is in detention awaiting trial for abuse of power, […]

NATO criticizes new Georgian government

By | November 13th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly criticizes the new government for putting pressure on the public broadcaster and local government and asks it to refrain from politically motivated arrests. The resolution was passed Monday in Prague at the 58. annual […]

Ex-minister ‘locked 17 soldiers in for 3 days’

By | November 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s chief prosecutor on Tuesday revealed details about additional charges that were slapped on top of an already serious abuse case against former interior minister and Saakashvili faithful Bacho Akhalaia. The former prison minister, […]

Ex-minister accused of torture

By | November 13th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A jailed former minister was Monday handed additional charges under a section of the law which deals with torture. The torture charge against Bacho Akhalaia — a close personal ally of President Saakashvili and former prison minister, […]

Jailed ex-minister’s father on the offensive

By | November 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The father of Bacho Akhalaia, the ex-minister who is jailed while awaiting trial for beating subordinates, demands an investigation of the defense minister. Bacho Akhalaia was detained November 7 for abuse of powers and illegal deprivation […]

Saakashvili loyalist placed in scandal-engulfed prison

By | November 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A former minister and Saakashvili’s loyalist thought to have been engaged in prison abuse, will serve his seven week preliminary detention at Gldani prison, where most of the torture took place. Bacho Akhalaia was prison minister from 2005 to […]

Ex-minister jailed for seven weeks

By | November 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi City Court has decided that Bacho Akhalaia is to be kept in pretrial detention until the next hearing in the case on December 25. Two military officers were released against a USD 12 000 bail each. The hearing started at 14:00 on Friday […]

29 MPs support ex-minister in abuse case

By | November 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — 29 members of parliament (MPs) have declared their support for a former government minister, claiming that the case is politically motivated and that testimonies presented by the prosecutor’s office are insufficient reason for detaining him. […]

Court hearing for ex-minister and 2 officers

By | November 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A former interior minister and two military officers are appearing in court Friday for a preliminary detention hearing. Tbilisi City Court is hearing the case of Bacho Akhalia, former interior minister, Giorgi Kalandadze, […]

Saakashvili loyalist may face a decade in jail

By | November 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A former government official and Saakashvili’s loyalist was today officially charged with abusing his power and illegal deprivation of freedom. Georgia’s chief prosecutor’s office has charged Bacho Akhalaia, former prison, defense and interior […]

Saakashvili’s associates alarmed by detentions

By | November 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council says that the detention of the former interior minister and head of the General Headquarters is ‘an alarming signal’. The only legal move which can slightly simplify the situation […]

Two of Georgia’s top military detained overnight

By | November 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — The head of the General Headquarters and the Commander of the Fourth Brigade were detained overnight. This follows after a former defense minister was detained hours before. All are accused of abusing their power. Giorgi Kalandadze, Head of […]

Ex minister detained in Georgia

By | November 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A strongman from the former government, associated with most of the torture cases in the prisons, was Tuesday night detained after four hours of interrogation at the prosecutor’s office. Bacho Akhalaia, a firm Saakashvili loyalist and former government official, […]

Former government minister to be interrogated tonight

By | November 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch — Bacho Akhalaia, a firm Saakashvili loyalist and former government official, has been ordered to appear at the prosecutor’s office for interrogation today at 20:30. Archil Kbilashvili, Georgia’s new Chief Prosecutor, said at a special […]

Ex minister returns to Georgia to face criticism

By | November 5th, 2012|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch — A former government official seen by many as the main architect of the torture in Georgia’s prisons says he has returned after leaving the country shortly after the parliamentary election. Bacho Akhalaia, who served as prison minister for three years, then defense minister for three […]

Georgia’s interior minister resigns over abuse scandal

By | September 21st, 2012|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – After releasing the scandalous footage of prisoner abuse, Georgia’s powerful interior minister, who is suspected to be behind these incidents, has been forced to leave his post. For three days people all over Georgia have been demanding that Bacho […]

Ministers bring staff with them in Georgian gov’t reshuffle

By | July 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Two ministers who where switched around in a government reshuffle are taking their staff with them. Former education minister Dimitry Shashkin is the new defense minister, and officials from the education ministry are now following after him. […]

Georgia’s new power ministers: Akhalaia and Shashkin

By | July 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s former defense minister has been appointed new interior minister. The former education minister will take his place, and the former rector of Police Academy will be new education minister. Bachana (“Bacho”) Akhalaia will take the position […]

Georgia to boost defense following Saakashvili’s U.S. trip

By | February 4th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Defense Minister signals that his country will strengthen its military capability. Bacho Akhalaia made the statement on February 2 after the meeting his U.S. counterpart Leon Panetta at a meeting of defense ministers among NATO […]