The everyday face of political repression in Georgia

Zurab Dzhaparidze, one of the leaders of the “Coalition for Change” opposing the Georgian Dream regime, has been arrested for refusing to pay a fine imposed on him for failing to appear before a parliamentary inquiry commission he considers “illegitimate” due to electoral fraud. “If people refused to live in lies, the regime would collapse instantly,” he declared.

Tbilisi (AsiaNews) – During a court session in Tbilisi, one of the leaders of the opposition political coalition “Coalition for Change”, Zurab (Girchi) Dzhaparidze, was arrested following the prosecution’s request to change his preventative measure from provisional release to detention.

The politician had refused to pay a fine of 20,000 lari (approximately €6,400) for failing to appear before a parliamentary inquiry commission, which he deemed “illegitimate” along with the entire Georgian parliament, following electoral fraud in last November’s elections. Activists and opposition figures claim that “there is now one more political prisoner in Georgia”.

Dzhaparidze’s supporters shouted “Slaves!” at the judges after the five-hour court session ended with the arrest of the leader, who is also the founder of the party “Girchi – More Freedom” and among the first to refuse payment of the fine imposed by the chair of the commission, Tei Tsulukiani, a member of the ruling party.

The parliamentary investigation was launched in January 2025 to examine the “crimes of the previous regime”, which governed from 2004 to 2012 under former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is now imprisoned. Dzhaparidze and others were summoned to “give their opinion on the human rights situation” during that period.

The politician refused to attend, calling the commission “a farce” and a tool for spreading lies by the current regime. He declined to “take part in this circus” or play by the “rules of the dictatorship”, and as a result, was prosecuted, declaring that as a matter of principle, he “would not pay a single penny” of the fines imposed.

Girchi added that “the lie is not only in politics, but also when the police give false testimony, the prosecution pretends nothing has happened, and the judge sees all this and submits to rules that have nothing to do with the law… If people refused to live in lies, the regime would collapse instantly”.

The courthouse was turned into a fortress under siege from the early hours of the morning, with extraordinary security measures and an unprecedented mobilisation of police forces. Many activists gathered to support the opposition leader but were kept outside the building, and several were arrested.

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association reported several violations, including obstruction of access to the court, interrogations at the entrance, and denial of permission to attend the hearing, which was held in one of the smallest courtrooms despite the high public interest. Numerous restrictions were also placed on journalists.

Another opposition figure, Gigi Ugulava, stated that “something very serious is happening in this court. We are witnessing the chronicle of a prearranged arrest, with all doors locked and police stationed in every corner of eastern Georgia. This is a medieval police state resurrected in our time.”

According to him, the display of force clearly indicates that “the police knew the judge’s decision in advance.” Only 19 people were allowed to attend Dzhaparidze’s trial: 10 journalists, 5 relatives, and representatives of the Czech and Swedish embassies.

The lawyer and deputy chairman of the Coalition, Nika Gvaramia, also requested the replacement of the judge, whose wife is a close friend of the prosecutor.

No requests were granted, and in protest, the lawyers walked out of the courtroom. Dzhaparidze then requested a court-appointed lawyer, but the judge left him without legal representation.

In his final interview before the trial, he said, “I’m ready for prison. For years, I’ve understood where we are heading and have prepared myself psychologically—but we must still grasp what awaits us all.”