Ex-President Zourabichvili slams ruling party amid opposition leader arrest

President Salome Zourabichvili has sharply criticized the arrest of opposition leader Zurab Japaridze, calling it a political move and a sign of the ruling party’s desperation. In a video statement released by her press office, the president said Japaridze’s detention shows that the ruling Georgian Dream party is launching “direct political attacks on opposition leaders.”

“This has nothing to do with justice. This is a political case, a sign that direct attacks on leaders are beginning. First, we saw activists imprisoned for nothing. Now, political leaders are the next target,” said Zourabichvili. “This is another sign of their weakness. They don’t know how far to take the repression. Every regime that reaches this point is doomed.”

Zurab Japaridze, leader of the More Freedom – Girchi party, was arrested in court on May 22 by the decision of Judge Irakli Shvangiradze, after refusing to pay a 20,000 GEL bail. He is charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code for failing to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission, an offense that carries a fine or up to one year in prison. The trial is ongoing.

The commission in question was established by Georgian Dream on February 5 to investigate the previous United National Movement-led government. Critics say its real purpose is to target key opposition figures, particularly those from parties that crossed the electoral threshold in 2024 but refuse to recognize the current government’s legitimacy.

Several other opposition leaders have also been charged and granted bail for refusing to testify before the commission, including Nika Melia (50,000 GEL), Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze (50,000 GEL each), Givi Targamadze (10,000 GEL), Giorgi Vashadze (50,000 GEL), and Nika Gvaramia (30,000 GEL). Former defense minister Irakli Okruashvili was also jailed on May 14 for not paying bail.

Melia and Gvaramia have both publicly stated they will not pay either, echoing Japaridze’s defiance.