Czech Foreign Ministry expresses concern over detention of Georgian opposition leader

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced concern over the detention of Georgian opposition leader Zurab Japaridze and the opaque nature of his legal proceedings. In a post on X, the Ministry called on Georgian authorities to "uphold democratic values, rule of law and respect fundamental rights and freedoms."

Japaridze, head of the More Freedom – Girchi party and a prominent member of the opposition Coalition for Change, was detained on May 22 directly in the courtroom. Judge Irakli Shvangiradze approved the prosecution’s request to revoke his bail and place him in pre-trial detention after Japaridze refused to pay the 20,000 GEL bail set for not appearing before a parliamentary commission.

“This is not about justice — it’s a political case,” Japaridze said during the hearing. “There is no rational reason why I should be imprisoned. If everyone refuses to participate in this lie, this regime will collapse.”

He is charged under Article 349 of Georgia’s Criminal Code for failing to comply with a court order, which could lead to up to one year in prison. The trial is ongoing.

The case stems from Japaridze’s principled refusal to cooperate with a parliamentary investigative commission formed by the ruling Georgian Dream party on February 5. The commission, officially tasked with investigating alleged abuses during the United National Movement government, has been widely criticized by opposition groups and civil society as a political tool to intimidate dissenting voices.