Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, a member of the Coalition for Change, has been placed in pre-trial detention, replacing the earlier preventive measure of a 20,000 GEL bail.
The decision was issued by Judge Irakli Shvangiradze of the Tbilisi City Court, following a motion filed by the Prosecutor’s Office. Japaridze was handcuffed in the courtroom immediately after the ruling.
The court session was marked by a tense and noisy atmosphere and focused on the admissibility of evidence. The case stems from Japaridze’s failure to comply with a lawful request from the Georgian Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission. After refusing to appear before the commission, he was summoned to testify before a magistrate judge, where he was formally charged.
Initially, the court had imposed bail as a preventive measure. However, the Prosecutor’s Office requested its replacement with detention.
The investigation falls under Article 349 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which addresses non-compliance with requests from a parliamentary investigative commission. The offense carries a penalty of a fine or up to one year of imprisonment, and may include a ban from holding public office or certain professional roles for up to three years.
Related story: Commotion erupts at Tbilisi Court ahead of Japaridze hearing
