TBILISI — Georgia on Thursday announced fresh criminal charges against leading opposition figures, including already jailed ex-president MikheilSaakashvili, accusing them of sabotage, aiding foreign powers and plotting to overthrow the government.

 

The move comes amid a mounting crackdown on dissent in the Black Sea nation, which has been mired in political crisis since last year's disputed parliamentary elections, which the opposition says were rigged in favour of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

 

The proceedings target Saakashvili -- who is serving a 12.5-year sentence for abuse of office, a conviction denounced by rights groups as politically motivated -- as well as a string of opposition leaders, Prosecutor General GiorgiGvarakidze told reporters.

 

The most serious of the charges levelled against the group -- "assisting a foreign state ... in hostile activities" -- carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

 

Many are already behind bars on prosecutions widely seen as political retribution, including opposition leaders NikaGvaramia, NikaMelia and EleneKhoshtaria.

 

Prosecutor Gvarakidze alleged the politicians had "engaged in activities directed against Georgia's constitutional order and national security" by providing information about energy and defence to Western governments that helped them sanction Georgian officials.

 

He also alleged that several of them had sought to "radicalise street protests" following the October 2024 elections by calling publicly for the overthrow of the government and the seizure of state buildings.

 

Saakashvili is accused of urging supporters via social media "to resist and topple the regime".

 

The opposition parties have yet to comment but the move is expected to spark a backlash, amid growing Western criticism of Tbilisi's democratic backsliding.

 

The ruling Georgian Dream party asked the Constitutional Court last month to ban the country's three main opposition forces.

 

Critics condemned that move as a "final step" towards authoritarian rule.

 

Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012, has faced accusations of drifting toward Russia and derailing Georgia's bid to join the European Union.

 

The party rejects the allegations, saying it is safeguarding stability.