Georgian Prosecutor General's Office launched an investigation into assistance to foreign organizations

The Georgian Prosecutor-General's Office is investigating a case of sabotage and support provided to a foreign organization in conducting activities hostile to the country. The agency announced this on its website on February 10.

"On February 8, the investigative department of the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia launched an investigation into aggravated sabotage, attempted sabotage and assistance to a foreign organization <...> in hostile activities to violate the state interests of Georgia," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

It is specified that the investigation is conducted under two articles of the criminal code of the republic, which provide for punishment for violators in the form of imprisonment from 5 to 10 years and from 7 to 15 years.

The Prosecutor General's Office said that the reason for the beginning of the proceedings was a statement submitted to the agency by representatives of the public movement "United Neutral Georgia". The document says that the recent events in the country show that someone is acting against the Georgian state and poses a threat to its security.

The agency pointed out that together with representatives of its investigative unit, the investigation team included employees of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Interior Ministry of Georgia. This is necessary in order to carry out the work effectively and completely. Information on the progress of the investigation will be periodically presented to the public.

Earlier, on February 7, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said that all those who fought against the law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" (the law on foreign agents) adopted in the republic should apologize to its government and people.

On December 20, 2024, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that the country's authorities are ready to discuss amendments to the law on foreign agents if they are justified what exactly is wrong with its norms and how they violate the principles of law.

On May 14, the Georgian Parliament adopted the law on foreign agents in the third and final reading. Then-President Salome Zurabishvili later said that she intended to veto the bill. The situation around the adoption of the new legislative initiative provoked a wave of protests and a negative reaction from the West. Thus, the European Commission and then European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell made a joint statement, where they noted that the adoption of the law on foreign agents by the Georgian authorities would have a negative impact on the process of the country's integration into the EU.

Later, on November 28, Tbilisi abandoned negotiations on joining the association - the ruling party postponed them until the end of 2028. For the same period Georgia refused "any EU budget grants". After this decision, protests were held in various cities. Against this background, the U.S. State Department suspended partnership with the Georgian side and announced its readiness to impose new sanctions. The French Foreign Ministry accused the authorities of the Transcaucasian republic of "repressions", Latvia banned entry of 13 citizens of the country, and Ukraine imposed sanctions against 19 Georgian politicians.