The Prosecution Service of Georgia, the State Security Service of Georgia, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia have jointly launched criminal proceedings against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze on charges of crimes committed against the state — namely, sabotage, assistance to a foreign state in hostile activities, financing of activities directed against the constitutional order and national security of Georgia, and making public calls for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and government.

Following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, in order to avoid a possible military confrontation with the Russian Federation, the Government of Georgia — acting in line with national security interests — adopted a policy of not imposing economic sanctions against the aggressor state and maintaining peace in the country. In response to this policy, leaders of certain opposition parties — Elene Khoshtaria, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, and Giorgi Vashadze — acting to the detriment of Georgia’s national interests, allegedly provided representatives of foreign states with information regarding imports of petroleum products into Georgia, as well as real or fabricated data concerning the situation in Georgia’s defense sector. They also disseminated false claims alleging that Georgian airspace was being used to transfer Iranian-made 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 public sector employees, with the aim of prompting the imposition of international sanctions. As a result, approximately 300 Georgian citizens — including political officeholders, civil servants, and individual business representatives — were subjected to sanctions imposed by various foreign countries.

In October 2024, following the defeat of opposition parties in the parliamentary elections, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Elene Khoshtaria, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze began active efforts to radicalize post-election street protests, citing alleged election fraud as a pretext. The above-mentioned individuals publicly called for revolution, the overthrow and collapse of the government, the blockade of state buildings, and physical confrontation with law enforcement.

In addition, with the aim of toppling the lawful government and mobilizing groups of aggressively minded citizens to engage in violent acts, former President Mikheil Saakashvili — through his personal social media pages and in video messages disseminated by mass media outlets — publicly urged his supporters to engage in unlawful and violent actions, calling for struggle and aggressive resistance. In these statements, he also called upon his followers to seize government buildings and “bring down the regime.”

The demonstrations that began near the Parliament building soon escalated beyond the lawful framework. Multiple organized and deliberate confrontations occurred between protesters and police forces, during which so-called Molotov cocktails, flammable, and incendiary substances were thrown at law enforcement officers. The actions of violent groups were coordinated with the aforementioned political leaders. These groups acted in concert, maintaining systematic communication through so-called walkie-talkies, which — among other items — were seized during searches conducted at opposition party offices, including those of the United National Movement, Droa, and Girchi – More Freedom.

On November 28, 2024, following public calls by opposition leaders, violent clashes between protesters and police near the Parliament building continued for six days. As a result, 158 law enforcement officers sustained injuries — several of them serious. Protesters set fire to rooms inside the Parliament building, causing significant property damage, as well as to police equipment, and destroyed public and private movable/immovable property along Rustaveli Avenue.

In the meantime, coordinated fundraising and financial support activities were carried out to finance violent groups. These efforts involved not only the politicians themselves but also non-governmental organizations and specially established so-called funds, which in turn received financial support from international donors.

Based on the evidence obtained during the investigation, Mikheil Saakashvili has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia — for public calls aimed at the violent change of the constitutional order or overthrow of government; Zurab Girchi Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze have been charged under Articles 318 §1 and 319 — for acts of sabotage and assisting a foreign state in hostile activities; Elene Khoshtaria has been charged under Articles 318 §1, 319, and 321¹ §1 — for sabotage, provision of material resources for such crimes, and assistance to a foreign state in hostile activities; Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze have been charged under Article 318 §1 — for sabotage.

The Prosecution Service will, within the statutory time limits, apply to the court seeking the imposition of bail as a preventive measure for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, and the scheduling of a preliminary hearing in respect of the other defendants.

The investigation remains ongoing. The public will periodically be informed about its progress and outcomes.