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Bachana AhalayaFormer Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia
Date of Birth: 24.10.1980
Country:  Georgia |
Content:
Biography of Bachana (Bacho) Akhalaia
Early Life and EducationBachana Rolandovich (Bacho) Akhalaia was born on October 24, 1980, in Zugdidi, Georgian SSR. His father, Roland Akhalaia, was mentioned in the media as the chief prosecutor of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. He was also known as the leader of the influential Megrelian clan Akhalaia. Bacho Akhalaia studied law at Tbilisi State University and worked as a coordinator for the Georgia Liberty Institute, a non-governmental organization funded by the Soros Foundation.
Career in Government
After graduating from university, Akhalaia became the deputy ombudsman of Georgia. However, his tenure was short-lived, and he soon became the head of the Department of Corrections at the Ministry of Justice. In this role, he was tasked with combating the influence of criminal elements within the Georgian penitentiary system. Akhalaia's methods were known to be harsh and involved torture and abuse of prisoners. Despite the controversy surrounding his tactics, he was praised for his success in breaking the control of criminal "thieves-in-law" over the prisons.
In 2008, Akhalaia was appointed as the first deputy defense minister of Georgia. He later became the defense minister in 2009, where he focused on modernizing the country's armed forces and increasing its defense capabilities. During his tenure, he established Georgia's military-industrial complex and the National Defense Academy. He was seen as a loyal supporter of President Mikheil Saakashvili and was known for his tough approach to national security.
In July 2012, Akhalaia was appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia. However, his time in this position was marred by allegations of torture and abuse within the prison system. After videos emerged showing the mistreatment of prisoners, Akhalaia resigned from his position, taking moral and political responsibility for the incidents. He was succeeded by Ekaterine Zguladze.
Personal Life
Akhalaia is married to Anna Nadareishvili, the daughter of Tamaz Nadareishvili, the former chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia in exile. He has a son named Maxim from his first marriage to Irina Heybel and a daughter named Kesaria from his second marriage. Bacho's brother, Data (David) Akhalaia, has also held high-ranking government positions, including being the deputy defense minister of Georgia.
Language Skills
In addition to Georgian, Akhalaia is fluent in Russian, English, and German.
