A hearing is underway at Tbilisi City Court regarding the case of Zurab Girchi Japaridze, a leader of the "Coalition for Change," related to his failure to comply with the demands of a parliamentary temporary investigative commission.

Zurab Girchi Japaridze is not attending the proceedings. As the judge read from a document submitted by the penitentiary institution, Japaridze refused to appear at the hearing.

According to Japaridze’s lawyer, Irakli Chomakhidze, Japaridze called him before the hearing began and stated that he does not trust the court, noting that this same judge imprisoned Nika Gvaramia and that he has no expectation of an impartial verdict.

Representatives from the German and Polish embassies are attending the court session.

During the hearing, the defense challenged the prosecution’s evidence. Consequently, both sides will deliver closing statements, after which Judge Jvabe Nachkebia will retire to deliberate on the verdict.

For context, Zurab Girchi Japaridze was summoned to provide explanations to the parliamentary temporary investigative commission but did not appear. He faces charges under Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to “failure to comply with the demands of a parliamentary temporary investigative commission.” This offense is punishable by a fine, up to one year of imprisonment, or a ban from holding office or engaging in certain activities for up to three years.

Japaridze was ordered to pay a 20,000 GEL bail as a preventive measure, which he did not pay. As a result, he was detained in the courtroom on May 22.