**Opposition Leader Speaks Out Against Biased Justice**
Badri Japaridze, a leading figure in Georgia’s Lelo – For Strong Georgia party, has spoken out against what he sees as biased justice. Speaking to journalists before his court hearing, Japaridze expressed his outrage that Tea Tsulukiani, the country’s former justice minister, is not being held accountable for allegedly failing to appear before a temporary investigative commission.
**Double Standards in Court?**
According to Japaridze, if ordinary citizens like himself can be dragged to court for supposedly not responding to an unclear summons from a commission, then Tea Tsulukiani should also face questioning by the court. “Why is she privileged and not required to appear before the same court?” he asked. Japaridze’s comments highlight what he sees as a double standard in Georgia’s justice system.
**Criticism of Prosecutors**
Japaridze accused prosecutors of showing complete disregard for the law, particularly when it comes to members of the ruling Georgian Dream party. “Don’t we all have equal rights?” he asked. Japaridze believes that Tea Tsulukiani should be questioned by the court, just like any other citizen who fails to appear before a commission.
**Background on the Case**
For context, Badri Japaridze was summoned to provide clarification before a temporary investigative commission in Parliament but did not appear. He was subsequently charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to failure to comply with a request from the temporary investigative commission. Japaridze has already paid his bail and awaits the court’s decision.
**Commentary**
The case of Badri Japaridze raises important questions about the fairness and impartiality of Georgia’s justice system. If ordinary citizens can be held accountable for failing to appear before a commission, then surely those in positions of power should also face scrutiny? The fact that Tea Tsulukiani is not being questioned by the court suggests that there may be biases at play, which undermines trust in the judiciary.
As Japaridze said, “This highlights that, according to them, members of Georgian Dream are too elite to be summoned as witnesses, while the opposition must be dragged through court and subjected to political persecution.” These comments highlight a deep-seated concern about the politicization of justice in Georgia.
