Georgia's Prosecutor General's Office has launched an investigation into opposition United National Movement (UNM) member and former minister Giorgi Baramidze over comments he made about prisoner exchanges during the 1992–1993 war in Abkhazia.

The investigation was opened following a complaint from the State Service for Veterans Affairs and concerns about statements Baramidze made during a July interview on the YouTube program The Birth of Georgia. According to prosecutors, the case is being investigated under articles of the criminal code concerning high treason and sabotage.

During the interview, Baramidze discussed efforts to secure the release of Georgian prisoners captured during the conflict. He stated that prisoner exchanges became difficult because Georgian forces allegedly were not taking prisoners and, when pressed on the issue, said some captives were being shot. He also contrasted what he characterized as stronger discipline among Abkhaz forces with the situation on the Georgian side.

The remarks sparked controversy and drew criticism from veterans' groups and political figures. Baramidze later said his comments had been taken out of context and that he had not accused the Georgian state or army of carrying out a policy of executing prisoners. He maintained that he was referring to chaotic conditions during the early stages of the war and argued that his statements did not damage Georgia's national interests.

The UNM condemned the investigation as politically motivated, calling it an attempt to discredit opposition figures. The party said it would challenge any legal action against Baramidze through political and legal means.

The case has attracted additional attention after prosecutors questioned conflict-resolution expert and former state official Paata Zakareishvili, who was involved in humanitarian and prisoner-exchange efforts during the war.

Zakareishvili disputed Baramidze's account, saying the former minister had only limited involvement in prisoner-exchange operations and could not have had detailed knowledge of the processes he described. According to Zakareishvili, Baramidze's claim that Georgian forces systematically shot prisoners does not correspond with his own experience during the conflict and is "out of touch with reality."

At the same time, Zakareishvili questioned the decision to pursue criminal proceedings. While criticizing Baramidze's remarks and saying they could carry political consequences, he stated that he did not believe the comments amounted to a criminal offense. He argued that the controversy should be addressed in the political sphere rather than through a treason investigation.

The case touches on one of the most sensitive chapters in Georgia's modern history. The 1992–1993 war in Abkhazia remains a central issue in the country's political discourse, and public debate surrounding the conflict, responsibility for wartime actions and relations with the breakaway region continues to generate strong reactions across Georgia's political spectrum.