<h1>Political Prosecution Sparks Controversy as Senior Official Denounces Charges Against Opposition Leaders as Retaliatory Maneuver</h1> A senior state official condemned a legal charge filed against opposition party leaders, describing it as politically motivated retribution by national government officials. The official alleged the investigative agency was misusing its authority to target political opponents, characterizing the action as an attempt to suppress democratic dissent. He pledged party resistance and called for broader public support against what he termed authoritarian tactics.