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Georgia opens first treason case since article was reinstated

Giorgi Baramidze, a member of the opposition United National Movement party

07 August 2026 14:26 (UTC +04:00)

The Georgian Prosecutor General's Office has opened the first criminal case on charges of treason, APA's local bureau reports.

The case was launched following an appeal by Georgia's State Service for Veterans Affairs regarding a statement made by Giorgi Baramidze, a member of the opposition United National Movement party.

The investigation is also being conducted under the article on creating a threat to Georgia's state interests.

Note that Giorgi Baramidze said during a television program that "during the war in Abkhazia, the opposing side refused to return prisoners because Georgian soldiers had shot prisoners of war."

Recall that the treason article, which was removed from Georgia's Criminal Code in 2007, was reinstated in April last year. The offense carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Jamila Babayeva

Georgia treason Prosecutor General's Office Giorgi Baramidze United National Movement Abkhazia criminal case State Service for Veterans Affairs Georgian politics investigation