Georgia is sliding into full autocracy under Georgian Dream, - this is how the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, ALDE Party, responds to the initiation of criminal prosecution by the Georgian Prosecutor's Office against opposition politicians on charges of sabotage, aiding and abetting hostile activities and inciting the overthrow of the government.

ALDE notes that the world must not stay silent.

“Opposition voices silenced. Democratic leaders prosecuted for “crimes against the state.”

Georgia is sliding into full autocracy under Georgian Dream, and the world must not stay silent.

Democracy is under full-scale assault. European liberals stand in unwavering solidarity with all those in Georgia fighting for freedom, democracy and human rights”, reads the statement.

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.