Ex-Pres Saakashvili, opposition figures face sabotage case as lawyer criticises ‘prosecution’

A lawyer representing former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has criticised the criminal case against his client, describing it as politically motivated and unprecedented.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, lawyer Beka Basilia said the proceedings included questioning and charges related to what he described as a “selfie with a shark”, calling the case an example of what he claimed were record-breaking levels of political persecution by the prosecution service.

He said the hearing concerned actions publicly declared by the defendant during his own legal process, adding that, in his view, people were now being tried over Facebook posts.

A court hearing involving Mikheil Saakashvili is scheduled to take place at Tbilisi City Court, alongside proceedings against several opposition politicians, including Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.

The case relates to charges of sabotage. The hearing will be presided over by Judge Besik Bugianishvili.