Ex-official Akhalaia's wife: defence dropping several witnesses to avoid delaying trial

Ani Nadareishvili, the wife of former Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia, has said the defence team has decided to withdraw several witnesses from ongoing court proceedings, arguing that their testimony is not essential to the case.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Nadareishvili said some of the witnesses were only involved in routine procedural actions, such as handling court archive materials and recordings, and that the defence had no questions for them.

"We decided to remove several witnesses because some of them are simply witnesses to technical procedures, for example retrieving a disc or recording from a court archive. We do not need such witnesses," she said.

Nadareishvili added the individuals in question were carrying out their official duties and their testimony would not contribute to the defence's case.

She also rejected accusations against Akhalaia, describing both the current proceedings and an earlier case against the former minister as politically motivated.

"This case is political, just as the first case was political. These cases are absurd from beginning to end," Nadareishvili said.

She added that the defence had no interest in prolonging the trial, noting that Akhalaia and his legal team had been involved in court proceedings for many years.

Akhalaia was arrested on 25 December last year in connection with events that took place in Tbilisi on 4 October. Prosecutors charged him under Article 225 of Georgia's Criminal Code with organising and leading group violence, an offence carrying a sentence of up to nine years in prison.

In March, prosecutors brought a second charge against Akhalaia under Article 317 of the Criminal Code, accusing him of publicly calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and state authority. The offence carries a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment.

Akhalaia, who served as Georgia's defence minister and interior minister during the United National Movement government, denies wrongdoing.