#SouthCaucasus
Are you a #poet, Mr. #Güler?
https://t.co/Qzq04hvl4w
Are you a #poet, Mr. #Güler?
https://t.co/Qzq04hvl4w
Day: November 6, 2025
Georgian prosecutors announced on November 6 that they are filing criminal charges against eight leading opposition figures – ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, Strategy Agmashenebeli‘s Giorgi Vashadze, Ahali’s Nika Gvaramia and Nika Melia, Girchi – More Freedom’s Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Droa‘s Elene Khoshtaria, and Lelo‘s Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze over “crimes committed against the state.”
The allegations include “sabotage, aiding a foreign country in hostile activities, funding activities directed against the Georgian constitutional order and national security foundations, calling towards violently changing the Georgian constitutional order or towards overthrowing the state government.”
Georgian prosecutors allege that opposition leaders, acting in various groupings, engaged in “active actions to radicalize the street process” after the October 26, 2024 elections; shared information “against state interests” with foreign country representatives to create “artificial grounds” for international sanctions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022; made calls that led to “violent confrontations” during the first six days of protests that began on November 28, 2024; and mobilized funds for “violent groups.”
Based on a joint investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, the State Security Service (SSSG), and the Interior Ministry, the prosecutors say charges include the following:
- Mikheil Saakashvili was charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code, covering calls towards violently changing the constitutional order or overthrowing the state government;
- Zurab Girchi Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze were charged under Article 318-1 and 319 of CC, covering sabotage and aiding a foreign country in hostile activities;
- Elene Khoshtaria was charged under Articles 318-1, 319, and part 1 of 321 prima, covering sabotage, providing material resources for sabotage, and aiding a foreign country in hostile activities;
- Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze were charged under Article 318-1, covering sabotage.
Prosecutors said they would request bail for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, and a pre-trial hearing for the rest. All others charged remain behind bars, among them Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, Zurab Japaridze, and Giorgi Vashadze, who are serving sentences for boycotting Georgian Dream’s parliamentary commission, as well as former President Mikheil Saakashvili, convicted on multiple charges related to his time in office.
While the two Lelo leaders were also convicted for boycotting the commission, they were released early after GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned them, citing the party’s willingness to participate in the partially boycotted municipal elections.
More to follow…
As part of the “Wind of Culture” event series, organized by the Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMİM) with the support of the Garabagh Regional Department of Culture, five-day masterclasses have been held at Fuzuli State Drama Theater in Horadiz settlement, Azernews reports.