Pre-trial detention instead of a committee of inquiry?

Georgia has a long and painful history of political polarization. But what is currently unfolding in parliament under the direction of "Georgian Dream" marks a new low: The so-called Commission of Inquiry into the years 2003–2012 has degenerated into the stage of a political tribunal. Its latest victim: Zurab "Girchi" Japaridze, one of the country's most prominent and controversial opposition politicians.

Because of his refusal to appear before the commission, Japaridze is now to be remanded in custody. His trial begins on May 22. The reason? He doesn't recognize the legitimacy of the commission—and thus refuses to participate in a body that many see as a mere instrument for intimidating the opposition. And with good reason.

The Commission that is not one

An insightful report by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) analyzes in detail the creation and work of the investigative commission. The conclusion is as clear as it is disturbing: The commission was created at the initiative of the governing majority without providing the legally required justification. Neither was the objective of the investigation sufficiently defined, nor was it made transparent which specific crimes were actually to be investigated.

Instead, vague formulations and backward-looking blame are used. The commission is supposedly supposed to investigate the "crimes of the regime from 2003 to 2012" – specifically, this concerns the Saakashvili government and the "United National Movement." However, in reality, the aim is not to clarify the facts, but to delegitimize them. The commission's investigation is one-sided, without fair access for opposition members, and its apparent goal is to create a legal basis for the discussion of banning opposition parties.

The political intention is obvious

According to the GYLA report, there is a risk that this commission will not serve the purpose of truth-seeking, but rather of political purge. The legal basis for its establishment was insufficiently observed, the extension of the investigation period to 2025 was made without justification, and the selection of the commission members does not reflect political diversity. Although representatives of other factions were formally appointed, they all come from the circles of "Georgian Dream" or its satellite parties.

This "investigation" is therefore not a pluralistic oversight body, but a partisan instrument. The leading legal organization GYLA clearly warns of the consequences: The commission is abusing its formal powers to suppress inconvenient voices from political life. The goal is not criminal prosecution—but the systematic discrediting and ultimately elimination of opposition forces.

Japaridze – symbol of resistance

Against this backdrop, Zurab Japaridze's refusal to comply with the summons is not just a legal dispute—it is an act of civil resistance. Japaridze declared that he refused to cooperate with an illegitimate body that lacked any objective mandate. The fact that he now faces possible imprisonment demonstrates the repressive nature of these "investigations." It is a reversal of the rule of law: It is not power that is being checked, but rather citizens who oppose it who are being criminalized.

Japaridze is not alone in this. A total of eight prominent politicians, including Giorgi Vashadze, Badri Japaridze, Nika Gvaramia, and others, have already been reported to the prosecutor's office for refusing to comply with the summons. Article 349 of the Georgian Criminal Code makes this possible – however, this norm has rarely been applied against opposition leaders. The Japaridze case now sets a dangerous precedent.

A commission on an authoritarian course

The GYLA analysis repeatedly emphasizes that the activities of this commission violate the fundamental principles of parliamentary oversight. Instead of creating transparency and independently investigating misconduct, it is becoming an instrument of the government against political opponents. In a healthy parliamentary system, the commission would be a tool for controlling the executive. In Georgia 2025, it has degenerated into a platform for political revenge.

The long-term consequences are dramatic: If this practice becomes the norm, there is a risk of a loss of parliamentary culture. Parties that hold a majority today could themselves become targets of such repression tomorrow – a thought that should be unimaginable in a true democracy. But in Georgia, where the "Georgian Dream" systematically undermines institutions, this nightmare is already a reality.

Rule of law in crisis

The Japaridze case is not only a personal drama, but also a political litmus test. The way the proceedings against him are conducted will reveal whether traces of due process still exist in Georgia—or whether parliament has degenerated into a stage for an authoritarian spectacle.

With its well-founded report, GYLA has made a valuable contribution to the investigation. What remains is the hope that national and international observers will see through this game—and that Japaridze and others will not become political prisoners of a "commission of inquiry" that doesn't deserve the name.