"Open the court hearing, why should you close it? Damn it, Akhalaia is not liked by many in this country, let them see what is happening… Bring one piece of evidence, present it, and right here I will raise my hands and admit it!" – this is how former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia addressed Judge Levan Gelovani.

At this moment, a preliminary court hearing is underway in the Tbilisi City Court on the case of former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, who is accused in connection with the October 4 events. The accused Bacho Akhalaia is present at the hearing.

The case is being heard by Judge Levan Gelovani. At the court hearing, the prosecution side is petitioning to close the session. According to Prosecutor Roin Khintibidze, the motivation for closing the hearing is the evidence obtained in the case, as well as the fact that the individuals involved in the case are employees of the State Security Service, whose names and surnames should not be publicly disclosed.

The defense side, however, is against closing the hearing. According to lawyer Malkhaz Velijanashvili, the prosecution does not want the public to see that the Prosecutor's Office has no evidence whatsoever against Bacho Akhalaia in the October 4 case, and therefore that is the motive for closing the hearing. According to the lawyer, at today's hearing, he will petition for the cancellation of the preventive measure.

According to Bacho Akhalaia's statement, he can "swear on his head" that the recording, which supposedly depicts a conversation between him and Paata Burchuladze, is fake. In addition, according to him, Bidzina Ivanishvili must be overthrown, and all those police officers who raise their hands against children and women must be arrested.

"I believe that this government must be overthrown. This is the only way to achieve freedom. We have an obligation to overthrow Ivanishvili. I am telling you, Ivanishvili must be overthrown... There is nothing to hide, this is my firm position, and it is the duty of every conscientious citizen to overthrow the Russian government. It must be overthrown and all its officials thrown out of the cabinet with kicks," – stated Akhalaia.

For information: In the October 4 case, Bacho Akhalaia has been charged under Part 1 of Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia for organizing and leading group violence, which provides for imprisonment of up to 9 years as a form and measure of punishment.