Bacho Akhalaya’s powerful rangers

By Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

The Georgian Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the Tbilisi City Court toward the former Interior Minister, Bachana (Bacho) Akhalaya, with regard to “the rangers’ case” – a refined torture of seven soldiers of the Interior Ministry Special Forces. Despite the acquittal and the act of oblivion signed by the former president Saakashvili, the former minister remains in prison, as he is accused of several other criminal cases.

The prosecution stated that the minister and some other top officials of the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry decided to punish seven soldiers for disobedience, took them to a military firing range where they tortured them for several days. For the crime Akhalaya could be sentenced to 21 years imprisonment. But lawyers of the defendants insisted that the soldiers took part in “the training program for rangers” which required difficult challenges and heavy training, including brute force for “building firmness and courage,” according to the minister’s orders. The victims called such explanations nonsense, demonstrating heavy injuries and wounds gained at the “training.” However, the City Court found the arguments of lawyers more convincing. The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling and confirmed that the former minister wasn’t guilty. Earlier Akhalaya was found not guilty with regard to several other criminal cases.

At the moment, Akhalaya is accused of kidnapping a 28-year old employee of the United Georgian Bank, Sandro Girgvliani in 2006 and his death.

Bachana Akhalaya like his brother Data Akhalaya, the former head of the Department for Constitutional Security of the Interior Ministry, was thought to be one of closest supporters of Saakashvili. He used to take various positions in the Interior and Defense Ministries. Data Akhalaya is also accused of murder and bribery, but he left the country as soon as the power shifted in Georgia.