Judge Jvebe Nachkhebia of the Tbilisi City Court sent Nika Gvaramia, a leader of the Coalition For Change, to pre-trial detention. Gvaramia refused to pay the bail set after he defied a summons by the so-called investigative commission in the Georgian Dream parliament.
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Nika Gvaramia did not attend his court hearing. After the ruling was announced, he went to the Rustavi penitentiary, called 112, and reported his location to the police.
"I'm ready for a one-year sentence. This is the fourth time I'm going to prison, and not only me, but my children have also gotten used to this happening in our lives every two years," Gvaramia stated.
I didn't attend the session of the unconstitutional and illegitimate commission of the unconstitutional and illegitimate parliament because I am loyal to the Constitution of Georgia, not Bidzina Ivanishvili's whims.
We are fighting against Russia and in these circumstances, we must be ready for anything. I agree with Zura, we'll prevail in the end. There's no turning back, our homeland is at stake. Therefore, we must be ready for anything. This is our historical mission,” said Gvaramia.
Gvaramia is charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to “Non-compliance with a request of the provisional investigative commission of the Parliament of Georgia” and carries a penalty of a fine or imprisonment for up to one year.
Other politicians have also faced criminal charges for the same offense.
Former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili, and the Coalition For Change leaders Zurab Japaridze and Nika Melia, were arrested after refusing to pay the bail.
Meanwhile, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leaders of Coalition Strong Georgia, each paid GEL 50,000 ($18,400) in bail, as did Strategy Aghmashenebeli leader Giorgi Vashadze; United National Movement member Givi Targamadze paid GEL 10,000 ($3,700).
Georgian Dream established this investigative commission in a one-party Parliament on February 5. Its stated purpose is to investigate the activities of the United National Movement (UNM) government and its officials from 2003 to 2012. Tea Tsulukiani chairs the so-called investigative commission. Georgian Dream aims to ban the UNM and other opposition parties that have not recognized the results of the October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections, refused their mandates, and demand new elections.
