“Bidzina Ivanishvili is a Russian influence determined to imprison his opponents. When the time comes, let them make that decision,” the Lelo party leader, Mamuka Khazaradze, told journalists during proceedings at the City Court.

According to Mamuka Khazaradze, they failed to imprison him and Badri Japaridze for nine years because they fought back and did not hide from the court.

“I deliberately chose to stand firm, refusing to show up and protesting against the illegitimate commission set up by the so-called parliament. We will continue this fight; under no circumstances will we help Bidzina Ivanishvili to send us behind bars sooner. He is a Russian force committed to silencing his opponents; when the time comes, let them make this decision. They aimed to imprison Japaridze and me for nine years, but they failed because we fought, we didn’t hide, and we proved in court that resistance always makes sense,” Khazaradze stated.

Mamuka Khazaradze was charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code for “failure to comply with the request of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Parliament of Georgia,” a charge punishable by a fine, up to one year in prison, or deprivation of the right to hold a position for up to three years.