As reported by Echo of the Caucasus
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia announced the launch of criminal proceedings against eight prominent opposition politicians, including former president Mikheil Saakashvili, on charges of crimes against the state.
The announcement was made by Georgia’s General Prosecutor Giorgi Ghvarakidze.
The case was opened against Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze (Girchi), Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze.
The prosecutor said the proceedings are being conducted jointly by the Prosecutor’s Office, the State Security Service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They involve crimes against the state – sabotage, aiding a foreign state in hostile activities, financing actions aimed at undermining the constitutional order and national security, as well as calls for violent change to the constitutional order and the overthrow of the government.
Following the start of the war in Ukraine, some opposition party leaders – Khoshtaria, Japaridze, and Vashadze – allegedly passed information to foreign partners about the import of petroleum products and the state of Georgia’s military sector, according to investigators.
According to investigative materials, false information was spread that Georgia’s airspace is being used to supply Iranian drones to Russia.
Khoshtaria, Japaridze, and Vashadze allegedly provided foreign partners with lists of civil servants and other documents to impose sanctions on Georgian citizens; according to the prosecutor, about 300 people – including officials and businessmen – were placed under sanctions.
The former president Saakashvili allegedly publicly urged supporters to fight and vigorously resist, and to seize government buildings and topple the regime, using his social media pages and video addresses.
Earlier, Georgia’s authorities announced plans to consider banning the main opposition party, United National Movement, via the Constitutional Court.
In June and July, some opposition figures were convicted: Nika Melia was punished for failing to appear before the parliamentary investigative commission that is examining the actions of the previous government, and Nika Gvaramia for refusing to attend the commission’s meeting.
Eight opposition parties in Georgia said they would not participate in the municipal elections.
The Prosecutor’s Office says the investigation is ongoing, and details about the individuals involved and the timelines of the pre-trial investigation will be released later.
Case chronology and anticipated consequences
The State Prosecutor’s Office emphasizes that investigators’ work continues, and any further steps in advancing the case will depend on how the investigation unfolds.
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- Tbilisi court orders former Georgian president Saakashvili to repay up to 9 million lari for embezzlement, highlighting political tensions and judicial controversies in Georgia.
