GD MP Kirtskhalia: Agent network diversifying – some pay bail, others not, fueling fake political tensions

“A diversification of local agent network operations is currently underway. Some are paying bail, while others have been instructed not to pay. Some have been tasked with organizing internal battles, while others have gone completely silent and claim they plan to participate in elections,” parliamentary majority member, MP Irakli Kirtskhalia said.

According to Kirtskhalia, who pays bail and who doesn’t is of little interest.

“They are trying to create a political climate on a nullified field through this issue. Despite their desire to have fewer agents represented on the political field, they will still participate in elections and line up,” Kirtskhalia noted.

Tbilisi City Court ruled to imprison Zurab Girchi Japaridze as a replacement for a preventive measure of granted bail, which he failed to pay. He was arrested directly in the courtroom during the hearing.

Due to his failure to appear before Parliament’s temporary investigative commission studying the activities of the 2003-2012 government and its officials, Zurab Girchi Japaridze was ordered to pay GEL 20,000 in bail on April 16. His deadline to pay the bail expired on May 18. Based on the commission’s request, the prosecutor’s office charged Japaridze under Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which concerns “failure to comply with the demands of Georgia’s Parliament’s temporary investigative commission.” The charge carries potential penalties, including a fine, up to one year of imprisonment, or disqualification from holding public office or engaging in certain activities for up to three years.