საინფორმაციო სააგენტო ინტერპრესნიუსი

"Another shameful example of political persecution in Georgia!" – This is how MEP Petras Auštrevičius responded to the arrest of Zurab Japaridze.

The brutality of the “Georgian Dream” regime continues to escalate, and the European Union and its member states must impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili and his associates immediately. This is what MEP Rasa Juknevičienė wrote on her X page.

The fifth President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, released a statement on behalf of the “Resistance Platform” regarding the arrest of Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the “Coalition for Change.”

"I know exactly that he fears nothing, and even from prison he will say only one thing – the same thing he says outside: unite to save the country," – wrote Tina Bokuchava, Chair of the United National Movement, on social media in response to Zurab Japaridze’s arrest in the courtroom.

Officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are attempting to reopen Luarsab Andronikashvili Street, near the Tbilisi City Court.

"Freedom for Japhara! Freedom for political prisoners! Fight to the end!" – writes Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of Lelo – For a Strong Georgia, on social media.

“The defendant was left without legal representation in the courtroom due to the performance staged by his lawyers,” said Natia Tatiashvili, the prosecutor in the case of Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, following the conclusion of the court hearing.

“The task is to topple the oligarchy, if we want people to be out in the streets,” said Nika Gvaramia, leader of the Coalition for Change, in response to the arrest of Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze inside the courtroom during his hearing.

Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, a member of the Coalition for Change, has had his previous preventive measure — a 20,000 GEL bail — replaced with pre-trial detention.

“Zurab Japaridze, who enjoys great popularity — especially among the youth — and plays a crucial role in the protest movement, has naturally become a special target for Bidzina Ivanishvili,” said Tina Bokuchava, Chair of Unity – National Movement, in an interview with Interpressnews regarding Japaridze’s ongoing trial.

The lawyers of Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, a member of the Coalition for Change, left the courtroom in protest.

“They’re trying to ensure that as many people as possible end up in prison so that they can sell this image abroad, as if politicians in Georgia are being imprisoned — to promote the same false narrative they’ve been pushing,” said Vice Speaker of Parliament Nino Tsilosani in response to several opposition figures refusing to pay bail.

"The only reason they are continuing the court hearing now (after working hours) is because they don’t want to bring and mobilize all these police forces again — they’ll have to pay them bonuses afterwards," said Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze during a break in his court hearing.

The Prosecutor’s Office is requesting to change the preventive measure imposed on Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, a member of the “Coalition for Change,” specifically the 20,000 GEL bail.

Activists Albi Kordzaia and Salome Kenchiashvili were reportedly detained by Ministry of Internal Affairs officers near the Tbilisi City Court.

Parliament is beginning discussions on the initiative to abolish the Special Investigation Service. On May 23, the legislative package will be reviewed by the Legal Affairs and the Defense and Security Committees.

According to the Emergency Management Service, the mountaineer and mountain guide Nikoloz Faliani, who fell from a height and died during an expedition, has been brought to Mestia.

"We are seeing a frightened government with shaking knees. Hundreds and thousands of police officers were deployed just to arrest one man," — said Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the “Lelo – Strong Georgia” coalition, while speaking to journalists.

The EU Ambassador to Georgia has our full support and trust, and his statements accurately reflect and respect the European Union’s position, said Anita Hipper, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission, during a press conference in Brussels in response to a question from InterpressNews.

There is commotion near the courtroom inside the Tbilisi City Court building, where the preliminary hearing of Zurab (Girchi) Japaridze is scheduled to take place.

"I do not believe that Lithuania’s decision is based on principled considerations related to elections, human rights protection, or any other declared issue — I think this double game is largely driven by a specific political scenario aimed at changing the government," said the First Vice Speaker of Parliament, Gia Volski, in a comment to journalists.

The court has been turned into a fortress, all the doors are locked. It seems they are planning to arrest Zurab Japaridze — this is today's prison-state. Opposition politician Gigi Ugulava made this statement to journalists.

The Head of the Patrol Police, Vazha Siradze, has explained the reason for the mobilization of police forces near Tbilisi City Court.

According to the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, Lithuania’s decision to revoke the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens holding diplomatic and service passports constitutes a gross and legally unfounded violation of the 2010 international agreement titled “Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the Facilitation of the Issuance of Visas.”

“Paying bail doesn’t free anyone from the threat of imprisonment. The risk remains. So how someone makes their decision depends on them. This topic has been artificially brought into the public discourse. We need to refocus and stop debating with each other. Instead, we should continue making decisions aimed at weakening this regime” - Saba Buadze, one of the leaders of “Lelo/Strong Georgia,” made this statement on PalitraNews' program “Day’s Newsroom.”