The third convocation held its first session on 2 April 2002, led by its oldest member Ivan Zarandia and attended by Vice President Valeri Arshba.
[1][2] Parliament elected three Vice Speakers, one more than during the previous convocation: Konstantin Ozgan, Sergei Dbar and Aleksandr Stranichkin.
Upon the initiative of Vice Speaker Sergei Dbar, the constitution of the Committee for Defence and National Security was postponed until after the rerun in constituency No.
Its creation was criticised as divisive by some of the remaining deputies and a special session dedicated to discussing this development was held on 4 February.
[7] The founding members of Republic were Achugba, Raji Avidzba, Vladimir Ashkhatsava, Marina Bartsyts, Aslan Bartsits, Viacheslav Vardania, Andzor Goov, Albert Kapikyan, Valeri Kandakov, Gennadi Nikitchenko, Konstantin Pilia, Viacheslav Sakania, Kesou Khagba and Tamaz Shonia.
[9] Other deputies later left the faction,[10] Vardania on 29 April 2003,[11] Kapikyan before February 2014[10] and Kandakov and Nikitchenko before December 2004.
[9] Most of its members supported outgoing Prime Minister Raul Khajimba in the October 2004 presidential election.
Its other members were Vardania, Kapikyan, Emma Gamisonia, Garri Samanba, Galust Trapizonyan, Iuri Kereselidze, Nugzar Agrba, Vitali Tarnava, Ilia Gamisonia, Vakhtang Pipia, Arkadi Jinjia, Beslan Butba, Vladimir Nachach-ogly and Albert Ovsepyan.
[18] On 11 March 2005, the parliamentary terms of Vakhtang Pipia and Daur Tarba were terminated, due to their being appointed Minister for Taxes and Fees and Chairman of the State Committee for Property and Privatisation, respectively.
[24] The Central Election Commission registered three candidates: Suren Kerselyan, Iakub Lakoba and Pavel Leshchuk.