Georgian Parliament to recognise mandates of 12 Gakharia for Georgia members - who will be new deputies?

Georgia’s Parliament is set to recognise the parliamentary mandates of 12 members of the opposition party Gakharia for Georgia during this week’s session.

The Procedural Issues Committee reviewed documentation from the Central Election Commission and recommended that the mandates of Gela Abuladze, Jemal Ananidze, Ketevan Bakaradze, Rusudan Tevzadze, Malkhaz Toria, Shalva Kereselidze, Salome Kobaladze, Giga Parulava, Vika Philpani, Giorgi Sharashidze, Tamar Khvedeliani, and Sopho Khorguani be recognised.

Plenary sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. During the week, Parliament will also consider the report of the temporary investigative commission and appoint the head of the State Security Service, alongside recognising the 12 new parliamentary mandates, which will replace the previously terminated mandates of the party members.

The party leader Giorgi Gakharia acknowledged that failing to use the parliamentary mandates earlier was a mistake, noting that whether the small remaining opportunity to correct this is utilised will depend on the political environment following the local elections.

The mandates of Teona Akubardia, Ana Buchukuri, Giorgi Gakharia, Levan Gogichaishvili, Zaza Tavadze, Beka Liluashvili, Natia Mezvrishvili, Berdia Sichinava, Kakha Kemoklidze, Roin Kochorashvili, Dimitri Tskitishvili, and Zviad Dzidziguri were previously terminated on July 2.