Opposition politician and former chairman of the parliamentary committee on defense and security (2008–2012), Givi Targamadze, was sentenced to seven months in prison for failing to appear at a session of the temporary investigative commission of the parliament, created by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The decision was made by Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Galustashvili, who also presided over the cases of Mate Devidze and other pro-European demonstrators detained during protest actions in Tbilisi.

Targamadze, who considers the parliament and commission illegitimate, did not attend the court session.

After the court’s decision, Givi Targamadze voluntarily appeared at the police department in Tbilisi’s Vake district, where he was detained by law enforcement officers. Before his arrest, Targamadze told journalists that he does not rule out the possibility that his arrest was ordered by Russia.

Givi Targamadze became the eighth politician sentenced to prison or arrested for failing to appear before the Georgian Dream investigative commission.

Previously, the following individuals were detained on the same grounds:

Giorgi Vashadze — sentenced to seven months, taken into custody on June 24;

Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze — sentenced to eight months of imprisonment each, taken into custody on June 23;

Zurab Japaridze — sentenced to seven months, arrested on May 22 after refusing to pay bail.

All of them are also prohibited from holding public office for two years.

According to the same article, Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, and Irakli Okruashvili were arrested, but the court has not yet announced their sentences.