Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the opposition Coalition for Change, stated after a court hearing in the so-called sabotage case that the Georgian authorities are using the trial for political purposes and are trying to achieve international legitimacy. The opposition figure believes that Georgian Dream is acting in line with its “authoritarian practices,” using the defendants in the case as a bargaining tool with Western partners.
“Today’s hearing is no accident; it is being held for the European Union and the United States. There will be internal bargaining linked to Georgian Dream’s desire to achieve legitimacy—not through new elections, as they are afraid of even elections run by their own rules, but through the opposition’s return to parliament,” Gvaramia said.
As a reminder, charges in the so-called sabotage case have been brought against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze.
Specifically, Giorgi Vashadze and Zurab Japaridze have been charged under Articles 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry liability for sabotage and assisting the hostile activities of a foreign state. The penalty under these articles ranges from 7 to 15 years of imprisonment.
Elene Khoshtaria has been charged under Articles 318, 319, and 321 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which entail sabotage, providing material resources for the commission of this crime, and assisting the hostile activities of a foreign state.
Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze have been charged under Article 318 (“liability for sabotage”).
Mikheil Saakashvili has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries liability for calling for the violent change of Georgia’s constitutional order or the overthrow of state power.
