“Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze,” Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze informed at a briefing held at the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.
“Following a joint investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office, the State Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs into crimes against the state, namely sabotage, assistance to a foreign country in hostile activities, financing activities directed against Georgia’s constitutional order and national security foundations, and incitement to violently change Georgia’s constitutional order or overthrow state authority, criminal proceedings have been initiated against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze,” Prosecutor General stated.
According to Giorgi Gvarakidze, the Prosecutor’s Office will apply to the court within the statutory timeframe requesting bail as a preventive measure for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, and requesting the scheduling of a pre-trial hearing for the other accused.
“Following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, 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 to avoid a possible military conflict with the Russian Federation. As a result of this decision, leaders of certain opposition parties operating in Georgia, Elene Khoshtaria, Zurab Girchi Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze, provided representatives of foreign states, to the detriment of Georgia’s state interests and to create artificial grounds for the imposition of international sanctions, with information regarding the import of petroleum products into Georgia, as well as actual or fabricated information concerning Georgia’s military sphere. They disseminated false information alleging that Georgian airspace was being used to supply Iranian combat drones to the Russian Federation.
Furthermore, Elene Khoshtaria, Zurab Girchi Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze periodically provided information and documentary materials, including lists of persons employed in public service, to representatives of foreign states for the purpose of imposing sanctions. As a result, various countries imposed sanctions on approximately 300 Georgian citizens in total, including political officials, public servants and individual businessmen.
In October 2024, following the defeat of opposition parties in the parliamentary elections, and under the pretext of alleged electoral fraud, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Elene Khoshtaria, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze initiated active measures to radicalise the street protest movement. The named individuals publicly made calls for revolution, the overthrow of the government, the toppling of the authorities, the picketing of state buildings and physical confrontation with law enforcement officers.
Moreover, to overthrow the legitimate government and mobilise, assemble and engage an aggressive mass of citizens in acts of violence, former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, through the use of his personal social media page and video addresses disseminated through mass media outlets, publicly called upon his supporters to engage in unlawful and violent actions, stating that struggle and aggressive resistance were necessary. In his statements, he also called upon supporters to seize government buildings and ‘overthrow the regime’.
The rallies that began in the vicinity of the parliament building quickly exceeded the boundaries established by law. There were numerous instances of purposeful and organised confrontation with police forces, including the throwing of so-called Molotov cocktails and flammable and incendiary substances at law enforcement officers.
The aforementioned politicians coordinated the actions of the violent groups. Simultaneously, the violent groups operated in mutual agreement and maintained systematic communication with one another through so-called walkie-talkies, which, along with other items, were seized during searches conducted at opposition party offices, including the offices of the United National Movement, Droa and Girchi–More Freedom.
On November 28, 2024, violent confrontation with police officers near the parliament building continued for six days at the leaders’ instigation. As a result, violent groups caused bodily harm to 158 law enforcement personnel, several of whom sustained serious injuries. They set fire to rooms within the parliament building, causing significant damage to the structure, and also set fire to special vehicles belonging to the police. They destroyed state-owned and privately owned immovable and movable property on Rustaveli Avenue.
In parallel with these events, the collection and delivery of funds and material supplies to the violent groups was coordinated with non-governmental organisations and specially created so-called funds, which in turn received funding from international donors, being actively involved alongside the politicians.
Based on evidence obtained during the investigation, Mikheil Saakashvili is charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, related to incitement to violently change Georgia’s constitutional order or overthrow state authority; Zurab Girchi Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze are charged under Article 318, Part 1, and Article 319 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, related to sabotage and assistance to a foreign country in hostile activities; Elene Khoshtaria is charged under Article 318, Part 1, Article 319, and Article 321 Prima, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, related to sabotage, provision of material resources for the commission of said crime, and assistance to a foreign country in hostile activities; Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze are charged under Article 318, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia related to sabotage.
The Prosecutor’s Office will apply to the court within the statutory timeframe, requesting bail as a preventive measure for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, and requesting the scheduling of a pre-trial hearing for the other accused. The investigation continues, and we will periodically provide the public with information regarding its progress and outcomes,” Giorgi Gvarakidze stated.