Today, verdicts will be announced in the cases of Zurab Japaridze (as well as Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze) for not complying with the request made by the investigative commission.

**Opposition Politicians Face Verdicts in Tbilisi**

On June 23, the Tbilisi City Court will deliver verdicts to three prominent opposition politicians: Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze. All three have been charged with failing to comply with a request from the Parliamentary Temporary Investigative Commission.

**No Attendance Expected**

Interestingly, none of these individuals will be present at their respective hearings. Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, leader of the “Coalition for Change,” has already stated that he does not trust the court or its judges and therefore will neither appear nor deliver a final statement. Similarly, Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” and Badri Japaridze have also announced their decision to boycott the hearings.

**Context: A Bigger Picture**

It’s essential to understand that this is not an isolated incident. In total, nine opposition politicians were summoned by the Georgian Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission. Eight of them refused to appear, with former Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia being the sole exception, as he has not been charged in this case. The other eight individuals have been charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia for failing to comply with a request from the commission.

**Consequences**

The offense of failing to comply with a parliamentary commission’s request is punishable by a fine, up to one year of imprisonment, and/or the loss of the right to hold office or engage in specific activities for up to three years. In Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze’s case, he was assigned bail of 20,000 GEL as a preventive measure but refused to pay it within the legally prescribed period. As a result, he was arrested in court on June 22.

**Other Cases Pending**

The verdicts for five other opposition politicians – Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, Givi Targamadze, and Irakli Okruashvili – are still pending. Their cases will be decided in the coming days.

**What’s Next?**

The outcome of these verdicts may have significant implications for Georgia’s political landscape. As we await the results, it’s crucial to monitor how this situation develops and what impact it may have on the country’s politics.