Prosecutor Archil Tkeshelashvili said the case materials confirm that opposition politicians Elene Khoshtaria, Giorgi Vashadze and Zurab Japaridze received instructions from a group of interested stakeholders operating on the territory of Ukraine.

According to the Prosecutor, the charged individuals undermined state interests and released false information.

“The disposition of hostile activities includes assisting a foreign country or a foreign organization in activities aimed at undermining the state interests of Georgia. Criminal charges were brought against these individuals for involvement in such activities. At the instruction of interested individuals operating on the territory of Ukraine, these individuals, I mean Elene Khoshtaria, Giorgi Vashadze, and Zurab Girchi Japaridze, collected and disseminated false information and narratives.

Elene Khoshtaria and Zurab Japaridze talk about the instruction they received from interested stakeholders in Ukraine. This is not a telephone conversation but a meeting of individuals. The group of interested people operating in Ukraine gives them instructions to collect and disseminate false information, narratives allegedly on Georgia’s violation of sanctions, on the country’s receiving banned import cargo and use of Georgian airspace for supplying Russia with ammunition and drones. The recording directly states that their interest was not in the quality of democracy in Georgia or the development of democratic processes. They had the sole aim, change of the government through unlawful methods,” Tkeshelashvili stated.

At a briefing held at the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia on November 6, Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze announced that criminal proceedings were initiated against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.

“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.

The Prosecutor’s Office said it would 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.