Zurab Girchi Japaridze (Georgian:ზურაბგირჩიჯაფარიძე;born 1 January 1976) is a Georgian politician and co-founder of a libertarian party called Girchi. On 26 December 2020 he founded a new political party,Girchi - More Freedom.
He was jailed in June 2025,under what are widely considered to be politically motivated charges,after refusing a summons from the Tsulukiani Commission.[2]
In 2016,Japaridze,established a right-libertarian party called Girchi,together with three other lawmakers who left the UNM. Girchi consistently held to libertarian principles,across the political spectrum. This also made the party one of the strongest supporters of the legalization of cannabis in Georgia,greatly contributing to the success of the campaign. In 2018,Japaridze run in the Georgian presidential election,receiving 2.26% of the total number of votes. In 2020,he was elected as a member of the parliament,although renounced his mandate after leaving the party. In December 2020,Japaridze founded new political party Girchi - More Freedom.
In subsequent elections Japaridze participated in various configurations,sometimes joining larger coalitions,or party platforms to contest the elections in 2020,2021,and 2024.
Japaridze gained attention for advertising that is widely seen to be original,including the use of social media and advertising in unusual locations. During the 2018 presidential election,Japaridze posted his own election banners on the porn site Pornhub. Users saw two banners with these captions on the site:"More sex,more freedom" and "I do not promise to increase the size." Girchi cited its low budget as the reason for placing their ads on the site,as the campaign was widely talked about. Other election videos featured party members in animal costumes on scooters,or an imitation of a key scene from the Matrix movie.[7]
Attacks,arrests and persecution
Japaridze has repeatedly been the victim of attacks. In the summer of 2023 he was attacked when he was at a youth camp in Borjomi.[8] In May 2024,Japaridze reported several attempts of people to attack him,at a time when multiple opposition politicians,including his brother,had beean assaulted. He succeeded in repelling the attackers.[9]
On 2 December 2024,Japaridze was arrested and beaten amid protests against the suspension of Georgia's accession process to the EU by the Georgian Dream government of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.[10] He was released a few hours later because of his immunity as a member of parliament.
In June 2025,Japaridze was jailed for refusing to follow a summons to an investigative commission. The summons and jailing is widely considered to be politically motivated.[2] He currently remains in jail.
Political views
Japaridze adheres to the libertarian and strong pro-Western views. Japaridze has been a long time proponent of Georgia's membership in North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. Japaridze's economic policies are focused on the deregulation of the market and the development of macroeconomic potential in the country. Since becoming the member of the Parliament,Japaridze has been actively advocating for low taxes,small government,government decentralization,and privatization of state-owned property. Japaridze also supports marijuana legalization in Georgia.
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