Opposition Figures Criticize Closed Hearings in 'Sabotage' Case, Deny Charges
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Court hearings in the Sabotage case involving several Georgian opposition leaders have been closed to the public, prompting sharp criticism from defendants who say the case lacks evidence.
The case targets a group of opposition figures, including Mikheil Saakashvili, Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, and Elene Khoshtaria. Charges include sabotage, assisting a foreign state, and, in Saakashvili's case, calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia, some of the charges carry prison sentences of seven to fifteen years. Bail has been set at 30,000 GEL for Vashadze and Zurab Japaridze, and 1 million GEL for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.
The latest session was closed by Judge Tamar Makharoblidze. Zurab Girchi Japaridze said the judge halted the hearing following reactions in the courtroom.
"There is no evidence in the case; it is simply a collection of various public speeches and false testimonies of about 20 police officers," Japaridze told journalists. He added that the session was closed "because of laughter and ridicule," saying the prosecution's arguments were difficult to take seriously.
He said the case materials consist of public statements and police accounts that he described as fabricated. "There is no evidence for this," he said, adding that the defense has struggled to understand how to respond to the accusations.
Giorgi Vashadze also dismissed the case, saying: "There is a blank sheet of paper in my case, on which my name, surname, and article are indicated, nothing more." He argued that hearings are being closed to prevent the public from seeing what he called an unfounded case.
"The judge did not grant the motion to open the hearing. This was absolutely expected, because this case has no substance," Vashadze said, linking the prosecution to political pressure on opposition figures.
Japaridze further criticized the prosecution, saying authorities have failed to identify specific evidence against him despite repeated requests. He also claimed the case is politically motivated, arguing it is aimed at both domestic opponents and international audiences.
Badri Japaridze said the closed format raises further concerns. "The closure of the process is an indication that the organizers do not want the public to know what falsity is behind this process," he said, describing the charges as fabricated.
