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The Georgian parliament’s Procedural Issues Committee approved suspension of parliamentary member status for three opposition leaders and the former speaker on Monday, bringing the process closer to formal revocation of their positions.

Leading opposition figures – Elene Khoshtaria from Droa party, Shalva Natelashvili from Labour Party and Badri Japaridze from Lelo – were the subject of the decision, along with former parliament speaker and ruling Georgian Dream party member Kakha Kuchava.

The committee’s decision will be voted on by the parliament, with support from at least 76 MPs in the 150-member body required to formally suspend the four politicians.

For Khoshtaria and Natelashvili, the termination of their MP status was approved due to their absence on all the autumn sessions of the legislative body. The parliamentary regulations allow for suspension of member status in such cases.