The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has stated that it did not request a ban on opposition politician Zurab Japaridze entering other countries. The agency commented on the detention of one of the "Coalition for Change" leaders at a Turkish airport in response to an inquiry from the IPN news agency.

"A ban on Japaridze entering any country was not a request made by the Georgian Interior Ministry," the ministry asserted.

Japaridze himself previously recounted that Turkish border guards detained him and explained that he was banned from entering Turkey as of November 2025. According to the politician, the Turkish side cited information received from official Georgian authorities.

In April 2026, the Georgian service of Radio Liberty reported that on May 7, 2025, Georgian authorities had contacted the Interpol bureau in Ankara regarding Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, and Giorgi Vashadze. In response, the Turkish side indicated that the politicians were not in the country and forwarded the received information to the relevant agencies to have them added to the list of individuals banned from entry. Subsequently, Japaridze stated he did not know if he had been placed on such a list but acknowledged that he might face problems during trips abroad.

The politician was released from custody on December 19, 2025, after spending seven months in prison. He had been penalized for failing to appear before a temporary investigative commission of the Georgian parliament.

In November 2025, while still in custody, Japaridze was charged with sabotage and aiding the hostile activities of a foreign state. Prosecutors allege that he and other opposition figures passed information to representatives of foreign countries that harmed Georgia's state interests.

Under the relevant charges, Japaridze faces seven to 15 years in prison. He denies the accusations.