Zurab Japaridze Refuses Bail, Says Arrest Is Likely: 'This Is a Matter of Principle'
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, May 19, 2025
Opposition leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze has announced that he expects to be arrested this week after refusing to pay a 20,000 GEL bail set by the court for his noncompliance with a parliamentary investigation. Speaking on Palitra News' Polit-City, the prominent politician said there is a "99% chance" he will be detained during a scheduled hearing on May 22.
"Today is the deadline for paying the bail. They won't arrest me today, but on Thursday, they probably will," Japaridze said. He made it clear that he has no intention of paying the fine, which was imposed after he refused to appear before a temporary parliamentary investigative commission. "It's not that I want to go to prison," he added, "but this is a matter of principle. I will not participate in this farce."
Japaridze harshly criticized Georgia's judicial and political system, describing it as punitive and unchanged since Soviet times. "This is not a justice system," he said. "It's a system built to punish dissent. From the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the courts and prosecutors, everyone is part of the same falsehood."
The opposition leader also addressed the broader political climate, expressing concern over Georgia's democratic backsliding and the direction of recent political developments. He praised the resilience of protest movements, particularly the nightly rallies on Rustaveli Avenue, saying they represent a critical show of resistance to what he views as an increasingly authoritarian regime.
"What I like is that the protest hasn't died out. It shows that people are still fighting, still refusing to accept this regime," he said. He dismissed criticism from those who claim the demonstrations are ineffective, arguing that protest is currently the only meaningful form of civic resistance available.
Turning to upcoming local elections, Japaridze warned that participation under current conditions would be a serious mistake. "Elections in Georgia, as they stand now, are not real elections. Taking part would legitimize the fraud," he argued. "It would also damage the protest movement and send the wrong signal to our international partners."
He also weighed in on the potential participation of other opposition parties, specifically addressing former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia's party Gakharia for Georgia. Japaridze predicted that the party would avoid running, calling any such decision "disastrous" for Gakharia. "He won't even get the numbers the CEC gave him last time. It would be political suicide."
Despite the looming threat of arrest, Japaridze remained firm in his stance and hopeful about Georgia's future. "Every citizen needs to understand what staying home means, it means accepting life under this regime. You'll wake up in Chechnya if you do that. We cannot afford to switch off our minds."
He ended with a message of defiance and belief in the power of the public. "Georgia will not be Russified. This fight will end in victory, because the people of this country still care and they are not backing down."
