The trial of Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the Strategy Agmashenebeli party, is underway at the Tbilisi City Court in a sabotage case.

The court is currently considering the imposition of a preventive measure against Vashadze.

He is charged with sabotage and assistance to a foreign state in hostile activities. The Prosecutor’s Office is requesting a preventive measure in the form of 30,000 GEL bail. In addition, the prosecution is seeking the confiscation of Vashadze’s passport and ID card and their transfer to the investigative agency.

Giorgi Vashadze is attending the court hearing.

Vashadze denies the charges, stating that there is no evidence against him and calling the case politically motivated.

In November, the Prosecutor General’s Office launched criminal proceedings against several opposition figures, including Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze. The investigation against Vashadze was initiated under Article 318 (part one) of the Criminal Code of Georgia — sabotage, and Article 319 — assisting a foreign country in hostile activities.

For reference, Giorgi Vashadze was previously sentenced to seven months in prison for failing to comply with the request of a temporary parliamentary investigative commission. He was released from prison on January 23.