TBILISI (Reuters) -Georgian prosecutors on Wednesday charged Giorgi Gakharia, an exiled opposition leader and former prime minister, with offences related to his time in office, amid an escalating crackdown against opponents of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Gakharia, who served as Georgian Dream’s prime minister from 2019 to 2021, broke with the ruling party after his resignation and founded his own political party, which came fifth in last year’s election.

In a briefing, Georgia’s prosecutor general Giorgi Gvarakidze said Gakharia had been charged with exceeding his authority and causing injury to multiple people. The charges carry a maximum jail term of 13 years.

There was no immediate comment from Gakharia, who currently lives in Germany.

Gvarakidze said the charges related to a

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