Court Found Bachana Akhalaia Not Guilty

Salome Chkheidze

Judge passed non-guilty verdict on the former defense and interior minister Bachana Akhalaia and other accused people in the same case. However, Bacho Akhalaia is still in prison because Tbilisi City Court is processing two more criminal cases against him. Prosecutor’s office will appeal the verdict passed by Judge Darakhvelidze at the Appeal Court.

Bachana Akhalaia, Giorgi Kalandadze – former head of the Joint Staff and Merab Kikabidze- commander of the Senaki infantry brigade # 2 were found not guilty in every accusation imposed by the prosecutor’s office. 

Charge imposed on Zurab Shamatava, commander of Vaziani fourth brigade and Sergeant Aleksandre Gorgadze under Article 333 (abuse of professional power) was re-qualified into Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (battery). Court imposed 140 hours of socially useful labour on them. However, since the crime was committed before October, 2012, according to the Amnesty Code, Zurab Shamatava and Aleksandre Gorgadze were freed from punishment. 

Judge found former deputy head of the penitentiary department Gaga Mkurnalidze and employees of the same department Manuchar Daraselia and Giorgi Kintsurashvili non guilty; they were charged in the episode of illicit restriction of freedom of Zviad Abesadze. 

Prosecutor Irakli Nadareishvili said the prosecutor’s office will appeal the verdict after the resolution part of the judgment is published.

Tbilisi City Court was processing criminal case against Bachana Akhalaia and other accused people in three episodes: locking soldiers in the bathroom of Senaki Second Infantry Brigade, illicit restriction of businessman Zviad Abesadze’s freedom and physical assault of soldiers in Vaziani brigade.

Bachana Akhalaia is still in prison because Tbilisi City Court is processing two more criminal cases against him which refer to the episodes of the torture of soldiers during ranger courses and riot in prison.