Georgian opposition politician, leader of “Strong Georgia” and the “Lelo” party, Mamuka Khazaradze, has been sentenced to eight months in prison for failing to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission. In addition, he has been banned from holding public office for the next two years.
Khazaradze was not present at the sentencing.
The case against Khazaradze was brought under Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which provides for liability for “failure to comply with the requirements of a temporary investigative commission.” As a preventive measure, bail was set at 50,000 lari, which he paid—unlike some other opposition politicians.
In a similar case earlier this morning, opposition politician Zurab Japaridze, leader of the “Coalition for Change” and the “Girchi — More Freedom” party, was sentenced to seven months in prison.
Opposition politicians Irakli Okruashvili and Nika Gvaramia were also arrested for failing to appear before the investigative commission, and several other political figures have been charged.
