Worries are mounting that more Georgian opposition leaders may be sent – or rather returned – to prison for years amid intensifying court hearings in the so-called “sabotage” case. The “sabotage case” and other criminal prosecutions are only one part in a series of distractions the Georgian opposition has faced over the past year. In November 2025, Georgian Dream filed a constitutional appeal seeking to ban three major opposition parties: the United National Movement (UNM), Ahali/Coalition for Change, and Lelo/Strong Georgia. Later, a series of amendments in March 2026 also introduced eight-year bans on political party membership for those who have worked in foreign-funded organizations. It remains to be seen how much political space Georgian Dream will allow them to operate in.