Lelo’s Japaridze states he chose to pay bail not to aid Ivanishvili in sending him behind bars

“I will not facilitate my arrest for Ivanishvili. He has been relentless in pursuing our detention and has persecuted us for six years,” declared Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Lelo party.

Japaridze explained that he understands why some colleagues have chosen not to pay the bail, as the so-called investigation commission is illegitimate, established in violation of the Constitution.

“The investigation commission operates outside the law. According to Article 42 of the Constitution, half of its members must be representatives of opposition parties. Its formation breaches the Constitution, and any decisions it makes are therefore unlawful. Consequently, refusing to attend the commission cannot be considered a crime,” he emphasized.

While Japaridze decided to pay the bail, he clarified that he did not expect others to follow his example.

“I will not facilitate my arrest for Ivanishvili. He has sought our detention and has persecuted us for six years. We are charged under an article that stipulates up to one year of imprisonment. This will likely be another fabricated charge, but I chose not to make it easier for Ivanishvili to imprison me simply because I refused to pay the bail.”

Japaridze also acknowledged that some politicians have opted not to pay bail and condemned those who support the commission’s activities, stating they are endorsing a breach of the Constitution.

When asked about the internal disagreements within the opposition regarding bail payments—specifically, Nika Gvaramia’s statement that he feels a moral advantage to those who opted to pay bail—Japaridze responded that each individual makes personal decisions and that Gvaramia acted according to his own judgment.

Regarding Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the Gakharia for Georgia party, who attended the commission’s meeting and thus appeared to legitimize its activities, Japaridze stated that Gakharia has no legal authority to confer legitimacy.

“Gakharia himself called the commission illegitimate upon his arrival. Legitimacy cannot be granted by Gakharia. He does not possess the legal authority to validate the commission’s actions or to confer legitimacy on the parliament,” he concluded.