Badri Patarkatsishvili, one of the richest businessmen in Georgia, was on Thursday officially charged by prosecutors in Tbilisi with conspiring to overthrow the government and of plotting a “terrorist act” against a top official.

The charges come days after Mikheil Saakashvili, the pro-western president, won re-election in a snap poll, defeating Mr Patarkatsishvili and five other contenders. In the face of fierce protests by the opposition alleging ballot-rigging and unfair practices, Mr Saakashvili avoided a run-off by mustering 52 per cent of the votes, just above the threshold required for a first-round victory.