Georgia 'sabotage' trial: US, USAID and CIA branded 'hostile forces'
Georgia’s ‘sabotage’ case against the opposition
A hearing was held at Tbilisi City Court on 15 July in the trial of eight opposition politicians in Georgia’s so-called ‘sabotage case’. Members of the political group United Neutral Georgia, which is widely regarded as an ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, testified as witnesses.
After the hearing, one of the defendants, Zurab Japaridze, leader of the Girchi – More Freedom party, wrote on social media that the witnesses had told the court the anti-government protests in Tbilisi in November and December 2024 had been financed by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and had amounted to an attempted coup.
Georgia’s prosecution service opened the so-called ‘sabotage case’ in 2025 against eight opposition politicians. Prosecutors allege they provided foreign states with information on national security, petroleum imports and other issues in a way that harmed Georgia’s state interests.
Those charged include former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili; Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the Strategy Aghmashenebeli party; Coalition for Change leaders Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze and Elene Khoshtaria; and Lelo – Strong Georgia leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze. Prosecutors also allege that their actions contributed to foreign governments imposing personal sanctions on about 300 Georgian politicians, public officials and business figures.
The defendants deny the charges and describe the case as politically motivated. Their lawyers have previously argued that the case files do not clearly identify which evidence relates to which defendant, making it difficult to prepare an effective defence.
According to Mr Japaridze, those claims were repeated several times during the witnesses’ testimony.
He said one witness compared USAID to Nazi Germany, arguing that the removal of the agency’s logos from its offices was comparable to the dismantling of Nazi symbols after World War Two.
Mr Japaridze also said the witnesses claimed that Georgia’s opposition parties, independent media, civil society organisations and participants in the country’s pro-European protest movement were part of an “agent network” funded by the United States.
According to Mr Japaridze, the court also heard claims that Ukraine’s Maidan protests had been organised by US officials.
The witnesses further alleged that attempts to organise a coup in Georgia had formed part of a plan devised by the US-based McCain Institute.
Mr Japaridze said the witnesses described the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the CIA as “hostile organisations”, while referring to former US ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan as an “American agent”.
He added that the witnesses said they did not support either side in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to Mr Japaridze, the witnesses also argued that criticism of Georgia’s judiciary did not mean the judicial system as a whole could not be trusted.
Writing on social media, Mr Japaridze said he did not understand the purpose of hearing such testimony and questioned whether prosecutors shared the views expressed by the witnesses.
After the hearing, Omar Purtseladze, a lawyer representing one of the defendants, also spoke to journalists. He said the witnesses had portrayed the United States as a “hostile force”.
Mr Purtseladze added that Levan Nikoleishvili, leader of the United Neutral Georgia party, had claimed that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas and European Commissioner Marta Kos were “supporters and associates of the agent network”.
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United Neutral Georgia and its stance
United Neutral Georgia is a pro-government political party founded in 2024. It was established by former government supporters and public officials, including Vato Shakarishvili, Nana Kakabadze and Levan Nikoleishvili.
The party says it supports a “neutral” foreign policy for Georgia. Its public statements have frequently echoed those of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the Kremlin.
United Neutral Georgia has regularly criticised Western countries, the United States, the European Union, NATO, USAID and Western-funded organisations, accusing them of attempting to fuel revolutionary processes in Georgia.
Opposition politicians and civil society groups have frequently described the party as a Georgian Dream satellite or a pro-Russian political force. The party rejects those characterisations, saying it is committed to protecting Georgia’s national interests and sovereignty.
Georgia’s ‘sabotage’ case against the opposition
