UMM’s Levan Varshalomidze on verge of losing his MP seat

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition MP Levan Varshalomidze may lose his seat in the state legislature for missing sessions.

The Procedural Issues and Rules Committee of Parliament will discuss the issue at the July 14 meeting and will present its conclusion at the next plenary session for a final decision.

If at least 76 MPs in the 150-member parliament vote for the dismissal, Varshalomidze’s status will be suspended.

In the case of termination of Varshalomidze’s mandate, he will not be replaced as the United National Movement requested the cancellation of its party lists after the 2020 parliamentary elections, when, along with other opposition parties, it boycotted the state legislature and was demanding repeat elections.

Five other opposition MPs, Nika Melia, Zaal Udumashvili, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze and Elene Khoshtaria, were not replaced as well when their status was terminated.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said Wednesday that “doing nothing” would not be tolerated.