Georgian prosecutors have filed criminal charges against eight opposition figures, including jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, accusing them of attempting to topple the government and aiding foreign adversaries. The move follows a recent EU enlargement report that sharply criticised Georgia’s democratic backsliding, warning that its progress toward membership has stalled.

Six of the accused are already serving prison terms on separate charges, while the opposition has denounced the latest case as a politically motivated effort to silence dissent. One of the targeted groups, Strong Georgia, said the ruling Georgian Dream party is trying to impose “a Russian-style dictatorship” and vowed to continue peaceful resistance through legal and political means.

Despite positioning itself as a future EU member, Georgia’s ruling party has maintained close economic ties with Russia and avoided sanctions over the Ukraine war. Critics say billionaire and former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, seen as the country’s de facto leader, is driving the authoritarian shift — an accusation both the government and Moscow reject.

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