Prepared by Messenger Staff
Badri Japaridze Summoned to Prosecutor's Office, Calls Investigation 'Groundless'
Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of Lelo - Strong Georgia, has been summoned to the Prosecutor's Office as part of an investigation launched at the request of the Parliamentary Temporary Investigative Commission. Japaridze dismissed the probe as "groundless" and stated that he would only testify before a magistrate judge.
"An investigator from the Tbilisi Prosecutor's Office, Marta Kikinashvili, contacted me. They want to question me as a witness," Japaridze wrote on Facebook.
He criticized the process, noting that the initial letter from the Prosecutor's Office did not specify which case he was being summoned for, and this information was only clarified after his lawyer made an inquiry.
"Of course, this interrogation is related to the baseless investigation initiated by the so-called Parliamentary Temporary Investigative Commission," he stated.
Japaridze invoked his rights under Article 113 of the Criminal Procedure Code, opting to testify before a magistrate judge rather than appearing at the Prosecutor's Office.
Mamuka Khazaradze Charged for Failing to Comply with Parliamentary Commission's Request
The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has charged Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of Strong Georgia, for failing to comply with the lawful request of the Temporary Investigative Commission of Parliament. According to the Prosecutor's Office, a preventive measure will be requested from the court within the legally established timeframe.
The statement from the Prosecutor's Office outlines that Khazaradze was summoned to appear before the Temporary Investigative Commission on March 25. The commission was set up to examine the activities of Georgia's previous government from 2003 to 2012. He was officially notified of this obligation on March 22, with a document signed by the commission's chairman. Despite being informed of the legal consequences of non-compliance, Khazaradze did not attend the session without providing a valid reason.
As a result, he has been charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to the failure to comply with a Temporary Investigative Commission's request. The charge carries penalties including a fine or imprisonment for up to one year, as well as the possibility of being barred from holding office or engaging in certain activities for up to three years.
