Nana Kakabadze was an active supporter of the 1991–1992 coup d'état. Levan Nikolaishvili served as Chief of the General Staff and held a senior position during the rule of the United National Movement; now he has become an opponent of Georgia joining the European Union. One of the members of this group was saying completely absurd things, I will tell you directly. Of course, such a group cannot accept any national force," Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of Lelo – Strong Georgia and a defendant in the so-called sabotage case, said while commenting on statements made by members of Neutral Georgia regarding the case.

Speaking to journalists before the court hearing, Japaridze said that members of Neutral Georgia did not like the fact that "we support Georgia joining the European Union and Euro-Atlantic structures."

"What can I tell you? At the previous hearing, there was a group of people who call themselves 'Neutral Georgia.' As they themselves said, they oppose Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, and therefore they do not like the fact that we support Georgia joining the European Union and Euro-Atlantic structures.

We listened to them at the previous court hearing. Of course, they cannot be witnesses in any meaningful sense, because they say that they watched our visits to the United States on television, that they disliked our meetings with strategic partners. That is what the previous court hearing was like.

One of these people, Nana Kakabadze, was an active supporter of the 1991–1992 coup d'état. The second, Levan Nikolaishvili, was Chief of the General Staff and held a senior position during the rule of the United National Movement. Now he has become an opponent of Georgia joining the European Union.

One of the members of this group was saying completely absurd things. I will tell you directly: he does not like the nine-point plan published by Lelo, which we issued to protect our country following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He believes that criticizing an occupier is against the country's interests.

This was the group represented at the previous hearing. Of course, such a group cannot accept any national force, any force working to preserve Georgia's freedom, independence, and sovereignty.

Our country's only path is to join the big family. Therefore, the statement you heard is not surprising," Badri Japaridze told the media.

For reference, the members of Neutral Georgia are the individuals whose statements led the Prosecutor's Office to open a criminal case against eight opposition politicians in the so-called sabotage case. At the previous court hearing, several members of Neutral Georgia—Nana Kakabadze, Vato Shakarishvili, Bidzina Giorgobiani, and Levan Nikolaishvili—already testified.

Four prosecution witnesses are scheduled to testify at today's hearing, including another member of Neutral Georgia, Gela Nikolaishvili.

For reference, charges in the so-called sabotage case have been brought against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab "Girchi" Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze.

More specifically, Giorgi Vashadze and Zurab "Girchi" Japaridze have been charged under Articles 318(1) and 319 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, concerning sabotage and assisting a foreign state in hostile activities, offenses punishable by 7 to 15 years' imprisonment.

Elene Khoshtaria has been charged under Articles 318(1), 319, and 321¹(1), concerning sabotage, providing material resources for the commission of the offense, and assisting a foreign state in hostile activities.

Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze have been charged under Article 318(1), concerning sabotage.

Mikheil Saakashvili has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code, concerning public calls for the violent overthrow of Georgia's constitutional order or state authority.