Gakharia for Georgia opposition MPs lose parliamentary mandates over absenteeism

Twelve members of the Georgian opposition party Gakharia for Georgia have had their parliamentary mandates revoked “due to repeated, unjustified absences” from legislative sessions, the Parliament of Georgia announced.

Among those stripped of their mandates are party leader and former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, as well as Teona Akubardia, Ana Buchukuri, Levan Gogichaishvili, Zaza Tavadze, Beka Liluashvili, Natia Mezvrishvili, Berdia Sichinava, Kakha Kemoklidze, Roin Kochorashvili, Dimitri Tskitishvili, and Zviad Dzidziguri.

The decision was made in line with parliamentary regulations, which allow for the termination of mandates if a member fails to attend more than half of the plenary sessions in a given session without valid justification.

As a result, Georgia’s 11th convocation parliament - which should consist of 150 members - now has only 89 active MPs. A total of 61 opposition MPs have lost their mandates since the current parliament was elected.

In addition to the loss of parliamentary representation, Gakharia for Georgia will be barred from receiving public funding for the next six months. This is in accordance with the Law on Political Unions of Citizens, which stipulates that a party forfeits budgetary support if more than half of its MPs fail to attend plenary sessions without valid cause during the previous session.

The suspension of funding will take effect from the first day of the next calendar month.