Georgian Parliament revokes mandates of opposition MPs over boycott

The Georgian Parliament has prematurely deprived MPs from the opposition coalition "For Georgia" of their mandates due to their continuous boycott of parliamentary sessions, a decision announced during a recent plenary meeting.

The "For Georgia" coalition secured 7.8% of the vote in the parliamentary elections, gaining 12 seats in the legislature. However, the party has boycotted parliamentary work from day one, refusing to participate in any sessions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

During the spring session, 26 plenary meetings were held, all of which were missed by the opposition MPs without valid reasons. "One can say that they are effectively stripping themselves of their mandates by failing to fulfil the duties they received from the voters," stated the Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili.

Papuashvili also reminded that since the start of the parliamentary term, the "For Georgia" party has received about 800,000 lari in funding despite its deputies not attending a single parliamentary day.

According to parliamentary regulations, funding for the party will be suspended for six months if the mandates are revoked, the Speaker emphasised.

By Khagan Isayev