Tbilisi, Dec. 28 -- The Tbilisi City Court has ordered pre-trial detention for Bacho Akhalaia, a former Georgian defence minister, on accusations of his involvement in an attempted government overthrow earlier this year, according to local media.
The court hearing was conducted on Saturday behind closed doors. The Prosecutor's Office stated the closed session was necessary to prevent the disclosure of sensitive personal information regarding employees of the State Security Service (SSS).
While family members and political representatives gathered at the courthouse, Akhalaia's wife, Ani Nadareishvili, was barred from the proceedings. The presiding judge noted that her legal status, whether as a witness or a defendant, remains undetermined....