The Tbilisi City Court has granted 20,000 GEL bail to former Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili, while imposing a travel ban on the politician for failing to comply with a summons issued by a parliamentary investigative commission probing alleged crimes under the previous United National Movement Government between 2003-2012.
The ruling, delivered as a preventive measure, satisfied a motion from the Prosecutor’s Office, which charged Okruashvili under Article 349 of the Criminal Code – “failure to comply with the lawful request of the temporary investigative commission of the Parliament of Georgia.”
Okruashvili, who held senior posts including Defence, Internal Affairs, and Economy Minister under the UNM Government, had been summoned to testify in connection with the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
The parliamentary commission, established by the ruling Georgian Dream party on February 5, 2025, is tasked with investigating the conduct of the UNM-led government, focusing on alleged torture and abuse of prisoners, incidents of murder, violence, and invasion of privacy, corruption and pressure on businesses, including media appropriation and the government’s handling of the 2008 war.
The commission, which has a three-month mandate, includes members from both the ruling party and opposition-affiliated groups, though critics have questioned its legitimacy and timing.
Okruashvili is not the only opposition figure to face legal measures under Article 349. Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leaders of the Strong Georgia Party, were similarly charged and each received 50,000 GEL bail earlier this year.
The commission is part of a broader political campaign by Georgian Dream, which vowed to issue a “strict political and legal verdict” against the UNM – a key pledge during the 2024 parliamentary elections. Though the ruling party failed to secure a constitutional majority, it has pressed ahead with controversial initiatives aimed at sidelining opposition groups.
One of Georgian Dream’s senior figures, Mamuka Mdinaradze, declared on March 25 that the so-called “collective National Movement” – a reference to major opposition parties – would be barred from participating in any future elections, alleging that they would be declared unconstitutional.
All four opposition groups that passed an election threshold in last year’s general elections are boycotting the parliament for alleged fraud in the vote. Ongoing protests, now in their fifth month, sparked by the GD Government’s decision late last year to halt the country;s EU integration until 2028, continue to demand fresh elections, with civil society groups and international partners raising concerns about the democratic backsliding and erosion of political pluralism in Georgia.
