I believe that I have not violated the law, and I also believe that it is inappropriate to apply a restrictive measure against me, because my life, my biography are tied to this country, - said one of the leaders of "Lelo - Strong Georgia" Badri Japaridze during a court hearing.

As he stated, he considers the parliament illegitimate and does not recognize the commission created by it.

"Your Honor, I want to tell you that I do not consider myself a lawbreaker. For an action to be considered a violation of the law, the demand must be lawful. This was not a lawful demand. Moreover, it is a de facto, one-party group created for direct political retribution. During this entire period, they were focused on insulting and slandering me, violating the presumption of innocence. When an investigative commission is created in a legitimate parliament, half of its members should be from the opposition. These people are the most loyal supporters of 'Georgian Dream,' its members are the most loyal to 'Georgian Dream.' 'Georgian Dream' recorded them as opposition representatives, but this is political fraud.

Regarding the summons of the group, whose aim was to tarnish my reputation and discredit me, I had no intention of attending such a commission's hearing. I will not allow the 'Georgian Dream' group to use the so-called investigative commission as a tool for political retribution.

Clearly, I believe the charges are groundless, especially bail. It was presented as if I am a criminal who might flee. My autobiography is well known to the prosecutor; I was elected to parliament three times. Now, I have renounced my mandate because it is recognized by the entire civilized world that the elections were stolen. Therefore, I would not attend the summons of an illegitimate commission created by an illegitimate parliament. I believe that I have not violated the law, and I also believe that it is inappropriate to apply a restrictive measure against me, because my life, my biography are tied to this country. I have no intention of going anywhere; I have never left, including after the coup. I stayed in Georgia when the coup happened, and my life was threatened, and I will not leave now," said Japaridze.

During the court hearing, the prosecution revealed that Badri Japaridze had also been sent a notice regarding the hearing, to which the judge Eka Barbakadze asked him a question.

In response to the judge's question, Japaridze stated that he avoids "notices from unknown numbers for security reasons, and as a result, he did not read the notice."