Georgian parliament strips 49 opposition MPs of their mandates
Georgian parliament removes 49 opposition lawmakers
At a plenary session on 5 February, Georgia’s one-party parliament voted to strip 49 opposition MPs of their mandates. The decision, backed by the Georgian Dream committee on procedural issues, was met with applause from the ruling party’s MPs.
The parliament, which was originally supposed to have 150 members, is now reduced to 101.
The mandates belonged to members of the opposition coalitions Unity – National Movement, Coalition for Change, and Strong Georgia.
The party Gakharia for Georgia remains in parliament with 12 seats but, like other opposition groups, has declared the October 26 elections illegitimate and refuses to participate in parliamentary activities.
Following the October 2024 elections, four opposition groups – three coalitions and one party – secured seats in parliament. However, all of them claimed election fraud and refused to participate in parliament.
In December 2024, three alliances—”Strong Georgia” (14 mandates), “Coalition for Change” (19 mandates), and “Unity – UNM” (16 mandates)—requested the termination of their MPs’ mandates in what they called an “illegitimate parliament.”
The party “Gakharia – For Georgia” (12 mandates) joined the parliamentary boycott but did not submit a request to terminate its MPs’ mandates.
The October 26, 2024 parliamentary elections triggered mass protests across Georgia. Theу continue to this day, demanding new, fair parliamentary elections to enable a legitimate change of power in the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili defended the decision, stating:
“Those who attempt to blackmail democracy and the people of Georgia will always receive a fair, constitutional, and lawful response.”
He also claimed that opposition MPs in the previous parliament had not worked a single day in office.
The following MPs have had their mandates revoked:
Marika Averadze, Lasha Bakradze, Tina Bokuchava, Saba Buadze, Giorgi Butikashvili, Grigol Gegelia, Ana Gogoladze, Sofia Goletiani, Ana Dolidze, Giorgi Vashadze, Tengiz Tevzadze, Ketevan Turazashvili, Giorgi Imedashvili, Giorgi Kirtadze, Tsotne Koberidze, Maia Kopaleishvili, Tamar Kordzaia, Irakli Kupradze, Tamar Laliashvili, Giorgi Lemonjava, Nana Malashkhia, Nika Melia, Koba Nakopia, Ana Natsvlishvili, Ramaz Nikolaishvili, Kaha Okriashvili, Datuna Rakviashvili, Salome Samadashvili, Khatuna Samnidze, Levan Samushia, Irakli Pavlenishvili, Ani Kavtaradze, Oktai Kazumov, Boris Kurua, Pikria Chikhradze, Petre Tsiskarishvili, Levan Tsutskiridze, Gigi Tsereteli, Ana Tsitlidze, Ivane Chkonia, Levan KhabEishvili, Mamuka Khazaradze, Eka Kherkheulidze, Irakli Khvadagiani, Elene Khoshtaria, Badri Japaridze, Gaioz Japaridze, Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, and Sofio Japaridze.
Georgian parliament removes 49 opposition lawmakers
