Bacho Akhalaia Faces New Charge for Calling to Overthrow Government

Bacho Akhalaia has been charged with a new offense following a statement he made in court.

He has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which criminalizes calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and the toppling of state authorities. This article carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

The case concerns a statement Akhalaia made during a court hearing on February 16, in which he said, “This government must be overthrown as quickly and brutally as possible, by any means and in any way.”

Bacho Akhalaia was previously arrested on December 25, 2025. He is accused in connection with the October 4 protests of “organizing and leading group violence,” which carries a potential sentence of up to nine years in prison.