The judge of Tbilisi City Court has ordered Givi Targamadze, who chaired the Defense and Security Committee under the United National Movement government, to pay GEL 10,000 in bail after he refused to appear before the Parliamentary Investigative Commission probing alleged crimes committed during the UNM government.

The court’s decision follows a request by prosecutors and stems from a violation of Article 349 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which punishes noncompliance with a lawful request by a parliamentary commission with a fine or up to 1 year in prison, along with a possible 3-year ban from holding public office or engaging in professional activities.

Givi Targamadze was summoned to the temporary parliamentary investigative commission on April 3 but refused to appear.