Tbilisi mayor: Attempts to stage revolution or coup will not be forgiven

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has said that no one will be forgiven for attempts to stage a revolution or a coup in Georgia, commenting on the detention of former Georgian Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia.

As reported by Caliber.Az, citing Georgian media, Kaladze stressed that the authorities had repeatedly warned against illegal actions and made clear that the state would respond strictly within the framework of the law.

“Overall, we have repeatedly stated—both the prime minister and I have issued calls almost daily—not to engage in illegal actions, because the state will act in accordance with the law. No one will be forgiven, and no one will be pardoned for attempts to stage a revolution or a coup in the country. Everyone who has committed a crime related to an attempt at a coup will be held accountable,” Kaladze said.

On December 25, former defence minister Bacho Akhalaia was detained in Tbilisi on charges of organising a violent protest in the capital and an attempted assault on the presidential palace on October 4, 2024.

Akhalaia’s wife was also detained in connection with the case but was released at this stage of the investigation.

According to the State Security Service, evidence obtained under a judge’s warrant indicates that during the events of October 4, Akhalaia coordinated the actions remotely using an internet application and acted as the main organiser.

“As a result of processing information seized on the basis of a judge’s ruling, it was established that during the criminal events of October 4, Akhalaia directed these events via an internet application and was the main organiser. He also repeatedly communicated via mobile applications with Burchuladze, Zodelava, Nadiradze, Mandzhgaladze, and Beridze, who were previously detained in the case. The accused discussed the plan for carrying out the protest action,” the agency said at a briefing.

The authorities recalled that on October 5, Georgia’s Interior Ministry arrested Paata Burchuladze, Murtaza Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Mandzhgaladze, and Lasha Beridze on charges of calling for the violent overthrow of the government.

By Tamilla Hasanova