Ex-Defense Minister’s not guilty, but stays in prison

Ex-Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia was found not guilty in the special operations abuse case. He is also charged in four different cases, including torture and excess of authority.

The litigation for this case has lasted for more than two months. The Ex-Defense Minister was charged for abusing seven members of the special operations forces for their oppositional political views.

Akhalaia denied the allegations. Ex-ministers lawyer claimed that it wasnt an abuse, but military training, called "Rangers.

The judge brought in a verdict of not guilty for the other seven suspected persons in this case.

Bacho Akhalaia was arrested on November 6, 2012. In two of cases, Akhalaia was found not guilty.

The Ex-minister and former head of the Penitentiary Department was found guilty at trial over the prison riot case and sentenced for 3 years and nine months on October 28.