On 4 December Japaridze announced his departure from the party in a move that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty referred to as "unsurprising".[13] Many observers linked Japaridze's exit to controversial comments made by party chairman Khvichia against the criminal prosecution of a man for the possession of child pornography, although Japaridze denied those comments as the cause of the party's split.[14][15]
Extra-parliamentary opposition
On 28 December 2020, Japaridze established Girchi - More Freedom.[16] It was officially registered on 19 February 2021.[10] The newly formed party kept up boycotting the parliament and demanded the holding of snap elections.[17] Per Japaridze's request his mandate was eventually revoked.[18]
In late 2021, Girchi-MF joined protests against what they saw as rigged elections. In one of the protests, the party members parked cars in front of the entrance of the State Security Service buildings all over the country with the cars having to be towed away with the politicians still inside them. Japaridze was arrested but was let go with a GEL 200 fine.[5]
On 24 February 2023, on one-year anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Girchi - MF, along with two other opposition parties Droa and Strategy Aghmashenebeli, organized a rally in support of Ukraine protesting against what they saw as a lackluster response by the government to the war.[21][22]
In March 2023, Girchi-MF joined protests against the proposed 'Foreign Agent' bill. Japaridze was arrested and fined GEL 2,500 for engaging in petty hooliganism.[23] The bill was withdrawn due to the protests, however, it was reintroduced a year later, with the party also joining the second round of protests.[24] In May 2024, Japaridze was twice ambushed by masked men near the party office. He fired a warning shot leading to the ambushers fleeing the scene. Two days prior to the incident, Japaridze’s brother Gia Japaridze was ambushed and beaten while on his way home.[25]
2024 parliamentary election
On 28 November 2023, Girchi-MF, along with Droa, launched the "Ballot Box in Your City" project with the aim of opening polling stations abroad in cities where a Georgian consulate is not located.[26] For a polling station to be opened it requires a request by at least 50 Georgian citizens.[27] The two parties have subsequently criticized Central Election Commission for what they see as an insufficient response to the issue of emigrants voting from abroad.[28]
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