Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, will not attend the Tbilisi City Court session scheduled for June 23, where a verdict in his case is set to be announced at 10:30 AM.

According to a statement from his party, Girchi – More Freedom, Japaridze has instructed both his teammates and supporters to refrain from attending the session.

“Zurab ‘Girchi’ Japaridze will not attend the pronouncement of the judgement. Accordingly, neither his teammates nor supporters intend to participate in the 'circus' called a court. His verdict will be announced in an empty hall by Judge Jvebe Nachkebia,” the party said.

The court will also announce verdicts in the cases of two other opposition politicians, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze. Like Japaridze, they are also expected to boycott the hearing.

The charges stem from the refusal of several opposition figures to comply with a request from the temporary investigative commission of the Georgian Parliament. Of the nine politicians summoned, eight declined to appear. The only one who complied—former Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia—was not charged.

Japaridze and the others face charges under Article 349 of the Criminal Code for refusing to comply with the commission’s request. The offense is punishable by a fine, imprisonment of up to one year, or a ban on holding public office or professional activity for up to three years.

Japaridze was previously granted bail set at 20,000 GEL as a preventive measure but failed to pay it within the legal deadline. He was arrested in the parliamentary session hall on June 22.