**Leader of “Lelo – Strong Georgia” Speaks Out Against Court Decision**
Badri Japaridze, the leader of the opposition party “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” has strongly condemned a court decision to impose a 50,000 GEL bail on him. The bail was set as a preventive measure in connection with his absence from a session of the Georgian Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission.
According to Japaridze, the claim that he had a risk of hiding and therefore failed to appear at the commission’s session is “a lie.” He pointed out that during a previous period of persecution after the 1990 coup, despite the risk of losing his life, he chose not to leave the country. Similarly, when faced with another period of persecution from Bidzina Ivanishvili‘s side and a 9-year sentence, Japaridze stayed in the country and has no intention of leaving.
**The Temporary Investigative Commission: A One-Party Group?**
Japaridze described the Temporary Investigative Commission as a “one-party group” created to discredit opponents. He argued that it was an illegitimate parliament that had established the commission, which also violated the law by not having enough opposition members. Japaridze claimed that the people who joined the commission from Ivanishvili’s party had never criticized him and therefore could not be considered as part of the opposition.
The leader of “Lelo – Strong Georgia” further stated that Gakharia’s party refused to participate in the work of this commission, considering it illegitimate. As a result, Japaridze believes that calling this group an investigative commission is a gross violation of the law and an attempt to take revenge on opponents.
**Appeal Against the Bail Decision**
Japaridze has announced that his party will appeal the bail decision in an appellate court. He emphasized that they do not agree with the use of this bail, which he believes was unjustly imposed. The leader of “Lelo – Strong Georgia” reiterated that his party does not hide and will continue to fight against what they consider a one-party group trying to discredit opponents.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the opposition parties and the ruling Georgian Dream party in Georgia. The Temporary Investigative Commission has been at the center of controversy, with many considering it an attempt by the ruling party to silence its critics. As this story continues to unfold, we will be watching closely for any further developments.