Opposition Lelo party leader Mamuka Khazaradze indicted for failure to comply with parliamentary investigative commission's lawful demand

The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia on Tuesday formally charged Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the opposition Lelo party, with failure to comply with the lawful demand of the parliamentary Temporary Investigative Commission examining alleged crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012.

Despite receiving the official summons signed by the Commission's Chair on March 22 and being aware of his legal obligation to appear before the Temporary Investigative Commission, Khazaradze failed to attend the session without a valid excuse.

He had also been warned about the legal consequences of non-compliance. His absence resulted in a failure to fulfill the Commission's lawful demand.

Khazaradze has been charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - non-compliance with a request of the provisional investigative commission of the Parliament of Georgia.

The Prosecutor's Office stated that it would appeal to the court within the legally established timeframe to request a restraining order against the accused.