Eight opposition leaders in Georgia have been charged with "crimes against the state." Six of them are already in custody.
The charges, announced by Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvaramidze at a briefing on Thursday, are related to both last year's protests and Western sanctions against certain Georgian officials.
Criminal proceedings have been launched against former President Mikheil Saakashvili, as well as opposition leaders Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze.
Except for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, others are already in custody.
According to Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvaramidze, the criminal cases against the oppositionists were initiated as a result of a joint investigation by the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia, the State Security Service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In particular, they concern sabotage, aiding hostile activities of a foreign state, financing activities directed against the constitutional order and the foundations of Georgia's national security, as well as calls for a violent change to the constitutional order and the overthrow of state power.
"The Prosecutor's Office will apply to the court within the time limit established by law with a request to select a preventive measure in the form of bail for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, as well as to set a date for preliminary hearings for the other defendants," he said at a briefing.
The new charges were brought against the backdrop of unprecedented pressure on the opposition by the authorities and expectations that the three main opposition parties would be banned, with 88 deputies having applied to the Constitutional Court for this request last week.
In the trial, the ruling party cited the conclusion of the parliamentary commission investigating the activities of the former government's United National Movement party and its associated individuals.
