Sabotage, activities against Georgia’s constitutional order, incitement to violent overthrow of Gov't - Georgian Prosecutor General announces criminal charges against key opposition leaders

At a briefing held on Thursday at the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze announced that criminal prosecution has been initiated against the domestic opposition leaders, namely, Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze.

The Prosecutor General noted that the investigation, conducted jointly by the Prosecutor’s Office, the State Security Service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, concerns crimes committed against the state, including sabotage, aiding hostile activities of a foreign state, financing activities directed against Georgia’s constitutional order and national security, and incitement to violent overthrow of the Government.

Gvarakidze noted that the prosecution would request bail as a preventive measure for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, while the court would be approached to set a pre-trial hearing date for the other defendants within the time limits prescribed by law.

“After the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, and in order to avoid a potential military conflict with the Russian Federation, the Georgian Government, taking into account national security interests, adopted a policy of not imposing economic sanctions against the aggressor country and maintaining peace within the country. As a result, some leaders of opposition parties operating in Georgia - Elene Khoshtaria, Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, and Giorgi Vashadze - to the detriment of Georgia's state interests and with the aim of creating an artificial pretext for imposing international sanctions, provided representatives of foreign states with information about the import of oil products into Georgia, as well as existing or fabricated circumstances in Georgia's military sphere. They spread false information claiming that Georgia’s airspace was being used to deliver Iranian combat drones to the Russian Federation. Furthermore, Elene Khoshtaria, Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, and Giorgi Vashadze periodically supplied representatives of foreign states with information and documentary materials, including lists of persons employed in public service, for the purpose of imposing sanctions. As a result, sanctions were imposed by various countries on a total of up to 300 Georgian citizens, including political officials, civil servants, and individual businessmen”, Gvarakidze said.

The Prosecutor General also claimed that after the 2024 parliamentary elections, several opposition leaders called for “revolution” and “the overthrow of the Government”, leading to violent clashes outside Parliament building that injured 158 law enforcement officers and caused property damage.

“Following the defeat of opposition parties in the October 2024 parliamentary elections, citing alleged election fraud, Zurab "Girchi" Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Elene Khoshtaria, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze began actively working to radicalise the process on the street. These individuals publicly called for revolution, overthrow of the government, collapse of the government, picketing of state buildings, and physical confrontation with law enforcement officers. In addition to this, with the goal of overthrowing the legitimate government and to mobilise, assemble, and involve masses of aggressive citizens in violent actions, former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, using his personal social media page and in video addresses circulated by the mass media, publicly urged supporters to engage in illegal and violent actions, stating that struggle and aggressive resistance were necessary. His statements also called on supporters to seize government buildings and for the 'collapse of the regime'. The protests, which began outside the Parliament building, quickly went beyond the legal framework. There were numerous instances of deliberate and organised confrontation with the police force, including the throwing of so-called 'Molotov cocktails', easily flammable and incendiary substances at law enforcement officers. The actions of the perpetrators of violence were coordinated with the aforementioned politicians. Simultaneously, the violent groups acted in concert and systematically maintained communication with each other using so-called 'radios' (walkie-talkies), which, along with other items, were seized during searches conducted in the offices of opposition parties, including the offices of the United National Movement, Droa, and Girchi - More Freedom parties”, he continued.

He further added that on November 28, 2024, following calls from opposition leaders, violent clashes had begun outside the Parliament building with law enforcement officers, which continued for six days.

“On November 28, 2024, following calls from leaders, a violent confrontation with police officers outside the Parliament building continued for six days. As a result, the violent groups caused injuries to 158 law enforcement officers, several of whom sustained serious injuries. They set fire to rooms inside the Parliament building, causing significant damage to the structure, as well as to police-owned specialised equipment, and destroyed both state and private property on Rustaveli Avenue. In parallel, there was coordinated collection and delivery of financial and material resources to the violent groups, in which, alongside politicians, non-governmental organisations and specially established so-called funds were actively involved. These funds, in turn, received financing from international donors”, the Prosecutor General said.

Following the investigation conducted, and based on the evidence obtained, Mikheil Saakashvili will be charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for calling for the violent change of the constitutional order of Georgia or the overthrow of the state power.

Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze will be charged under Part 1 of Article 318 and Article 319 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for the facts of sabotage and assistance in hostile activities for a foreign country.

Elene Khoshtaria will be charged under Part 1 of Article 318, Article 319, and Part 1 of Article 321 Prime of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for the facts of sabotage, providing material resources for the aforementioned crime, and assistance in hostile activities for a foreign country.

Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze will be charged under Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for the fact of sabotage.

The Prosecutor's Office will appeal to the court within the timeframe established by law with a request for bail as a measure of restraint for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, and for setting the date of the preliminary hearing for the other defendants.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, and we will periodically provide the public with information regarding its progress and results.