Prosecutor Lasha Kotrikadze: No request issued to block Zurab Japaridze at any border

Prosecutor Lasha Kotrikadze has stated that the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has not made any appeal or request to Turkish authorities asking for a travel ban to be imposed on opposition politician Zurab Japaridze.

Speaking to the GPB First Channel, Kotrikadze clarified that the criminal case against Japaridze contains no request or directive to stop him at any border crossing.

“I am aware of the incident; he contacted me directly and said: ‘I am currently in Turkey en route to Brussels, they are refusing me entry, and I wanted to check whether you sent a letter or request asking to block my travel.’ I explained to him that no such request to stop him at any border or send him back exists within the criminal case file. After all, if such a request existed, what would be the point of permitting him to cross the border in the first place? It would make no sense to grant permission and then issue a separate letter to turn him back. Under our clearance, he is permitted to leave the country, and he holds that clearance. This is the first time such an issue has arisen; he has travelled abroad on numerous occasions without incident, and this was the first time he contacted me regarding a problem,” Lasha Kotrikadze noted.

The leader of Girchi – More Freedom, Zurab Japaridze, was detained earlier at an airport in Turkey.

Japaridze shared news of his detention via his personal social media page.

He explained that he was travelling to Brussels at the invitation of Renew Europe to participate in a political leaders’ summit.

“I was detained at border control. As it was explained to me, an entry ban has been placed on me in Turkey since November 2025, based on information received from official Georgian structures. They are sending me back to Tbilisi tomorrow morning,” Zurab Japaridze wrote.