The prosecutor in the so-called sabotage attempt case, Lasha Kotrikadze, stated that the investigation has questions for Tamta Mikeladze, director of the non-governmental organization “Social Justice Center,” who is being questioned as a witness before a magistrate judge regarding the protests held in 2024.

Speaking to journalists before the interrogation began, Kotrikadze said that, during the 2024 protests, in addition to making calls to action, Mikeladze also provided financial support for the protests.

Specifically, the prosecutor explained that during the protest period, her organization purchased respirators, protective face goggles, and “pepper spray.”

“The investigation has questions regarding the protests held in 2024. Specifically, she stood out for her activity, making calls to action. These calls were related to opening ‘resistance points’ and organizing strikes in the public sector. She spoke of fighting and directly stated that the fight should be fierce. In addition, she provided financial assistance. During the 2024 protests, her organization purchased respirators, protective face goggles, and pepper spray. Naturally, there will be questions about this: for what purpose and with what intent were these items purchased, and what role did she play in these protests? Who was the organizer, the leader, what were the calls to action, and so forth,” stated the case prosecutor, Lasha Kotrikadze.

The director of the “Social Justice Center,” Tamta Mikeladze, will provide testimony in the presence of a magistrate judge.

For reference, on August 27, the prosecution released information stating that the Tbilisi City Court granted the prosecution’s motion to freeze the bank accounts of several non-governmental organizations, including the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Defenders of Democracy, Georgia’s Democratic Initiative, Safary, and the Social Justice Center.

According to the prosecution, the case concerns an ongoing investigation into facts related to sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance in hostile activities for a foreign organization or an organization under foreign control, and the mobilization of finances for activities directed against Georgia’s constitutional order and national security. Later, the Georgian prosecution summoned the heads of certain non-governmental organizations for questioning as witnesses.