Opposition figure Irakli Okruashvili has been found guilty of refusing to comply with the request of the temporary investigative commission of the Georgian Parliament.
By the ruling of Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili, Okruashvili was sentenced to 8 months in prison and barred from holding public office for 2 years. He was absent from the court hearing and did not exercise his right to deliver a final statement.
The charges stem from Okruashvili’s refusal to appear before the parliamentary commission on March 26, when he was summoned to provide testimony. His actions fall under Article 349 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which addresses noncompliance with the lawful request of a parliamentary commission.
Under this article, the offense is punishable by a fine, up to one year of imprisonment, or restriction from holding official positions or conducting certain activities for up to three years.
Okruashvili, a former defense minister and prominent opposition leader, has been a vocal critic of the ruling party. His sentencing has already sparked political debate, with critics calling the case politically motivated, while government representatives defend the verdict as a matter of upholding parliamentary authority and the rule of law.
