Georgian prosecutors charged eight opposition figures, including jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, with plotting to topple the government and aiding foreign powers, Reuters reports.

The outlet writes that the defendants include former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and seven other members of the three main opposition blocs.

“Georgian prosecutors charged eight opposition figures, including jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, with plotting to topple the government and aiding foreign powers, a move sure to deepen concerns about democracy in the EU candidate nation.

One of the main opposition blocs, which the ruling Georgian Dream party is seeking to outlaw, described the prosecutors' decision to launch criminal proceedings as "an attempt to establish a Russian-style dictatorship" and vowed resistance”, reads the article.

For information, at the briefing of the Prosecutor General, it became known that the Prosecutor's Office has initiated criminal prosecution against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.

According to Giorgi Gvaramidze, Mikheil Saakashvili will be charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for calling for the violent change of the constitutional order of Georgia or the overthrow of the state government. Zurab Girchi Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze will be charged under Article 318, Part 1 and Article 319 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for sabotage and assistance to a foreign country in hostile activities. Elene Khoshtaria is charged under Article 318, Part 1, Article 319 and Part 1 of Article 321 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for sabotage, providing material resources for the aforementioned crime and assisting a foreign country in hostile activities. Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze are charged under Article 318, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - for sabotage.