The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has charged former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia with calling for the violent change of the constitutional order and the overthrow of the state authorities.

"The investigation has established that on February 16 of this year, at an open court session held at the Tbilisi City Court, Bachana Akhalaia, while speaking, publicly called for the violent change of the constitutional order of Georgia and the overthrow of the state government.

Bachana Akhalaia was charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (calling for the violent change of the constitutional order of Georgia and the overthrow of the state government), which provides for up to 3 years of imprisonment as a form and measure of punishment," the prosecutor's office said.