Transparency International Georgia and Internal Society for Fair Elections and Democracy have urged parliament not to suspend MP status for three opposition MPs - Badri Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria and Shalva Natelashvili. 


The NGOs say that the move will weaken the state legislature. 


The Parliament’s Procedural Committee has already supported the suspension of  status for the trio.


 However, at least 76 MPs in the 150-member parliament need to support the decision for the final approval. 


Khoshtaria and Natelashvili have boycotted the parliament sessions following the 2020 elections, stating that the parliamentary polls were fabricated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, while Japaridze has been found guilty for fraud in the case which dates back to 2008. 


The NGOs say that there are ‘no solid grounds’ to suspend the status for Japaridze especially in the situation when the Lelo party will lose one seat in the state legislature if he is dismissed.