“Nobody will act on Tea Tsulukiani’s orders, especially our coalition leaders,” stated Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition, about the summons of Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze by the Prosecutor’s Office.

According to Elisashvili, the Georgian Dream established the commission as a tool for intimidation and repression.

“Let the Prosecutor’s Office come. Let them imprison us for a year for not attending the fact-finding commission; no one is afraid of them. We refuse to participate in their disgraceful meetings. The commission will not investigate anything, as it merely serves as an advisory body that will draft an opinion and may submit it to the Prosecutor’s Office. What is the point of that, when living witnesses are speaking out, and the office chooses to do nothing?

They need this commission to instil fear and use it as a means of repression. They see that we have not capitulated or submitted. Our coalition remains steadfast. I have a separate case in court on April 1, and the countdown is on for Mamuka and Badri. Nobody will act on Tea Tsulukiani’s directives, especially our coalition leaders,” he emphasized.

Elisashvili believes that if the coalition leaders were to attend the commission meeting, it would imply an acknowledgement of the parliament’s legitimacy.

The cases of Lelo party leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, who declined to attend the fact-finding commission meetings investigating the government from 2003 to 2012, will be referred to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Commission Head Tea Tsulukiani explained that according to Article 349 of the Criminal Code, failing to comply with the commission’s requirements could lead to criminal penalties, including imprisonment for up to one year.

The interim fact-finding commission meetings on March 25 and 26 focused on the Magniti LTD case. Businessman Jemal Leonidze has accused TBC Bank, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, and former Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili of seizing his property.