“The prosecution cannot go into the content of the evidence in this case, as the proceedings are being conducted in a closed session. The case includes, among other things, information confirming telephone communications,” prosecutor Tamar Bezhuashvili said in response to a media question about the nature of the internet session through which, according to the State Security Service (SSS), Bacho Akhalaia communicated with politicians arrested on charges related to organizing the protest.

The prosecutor also explained why the court hearing in the criminal case of former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia was closed. According to Bezhuashvili, the prosecution filed a motion to close the hearing because a number of individuals are involved in the ongoing criminal case, including representatives of the SSS.

“The case contains a range of evidence, including witness interrogation records, expert conclusions, and a phonoscopic examination report. The prosecution cannot go into the content of the evidence in this instance because the case is being heard in a closed format. The case includes, among other things, information confirming telephone communications; therefore, the charges brought are supported by evidence. The prosecution is, of course, fully familiar with the submitted evidence, and accordingly, charges were brought against the individual,” Bezhuashvili stated.

Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia has been placed in pretrial detention as a preventive measure. He was detained by the State Security Service of Georgia. According to the SSS, Bacho Akhalaia was the main organizer of the October 4 events in Georgia. The SSS stated that he directed the events via an internet application and maintained communication with politicians already detained on charges related to organizing the protests.

According to the SSS, from September 28 at 21:00 until their arrest, there were numerous telephone and internet communications via internet applications - a total of 343 recorded internet sessions, including 157 times with Murtaz Zodelava, 110 times with Paata Burchuladze, 29 times with Paata Manjgaladze, 26 times with Lasha Beridze, and 21 times with Irakli Nadiradze. According to the SSS, on October 4, the last contact with Murtaz Zodelava was made via an IP address registered in the name of Ana Nadareishvili, nine minutes before Paata Burchuladze’s speech calling for violence, which the SSS says provides solid grounds for drawing relevant conclusions.