TBILISI, October 7 – Georgia’s Constitutional Court has moved a ruling-party lawsuit seeking to ban five opposition parties to its full plenary session, a day after two newly appointed judges formally took office.
The court’s First Chamber decided on Tuesday, October 6, to refer the case to the Constitutional Court’s plenary session. The preliminary hearing was held without oral arguments.
One of the four judges on the chamber, Goga Kikilashvili, had taken his oath as a Constitutional Court judge the previous day, October 5, together with Sergo Metopishvili.
Kikilashvili was appointed by President Mikheil Kavelashvili on September 22, while Metopishvili was appointed the same day by the Supreme Court plenary. Under Georgia’s Constitution, the nine-member Constitutional Court is made up of three judges appointed by the president, three elected by parliament and three appointed by the Supreme Court. Judges serve 10-year terms.
The lawsuit itself was prepared by the ruling Georgian Dream party. An updated version filed on September 21 added former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia‘s For Georgia party to the case.
An earlier version sought to have the United National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia-Lelo and the Federalists declared unconstitutional and banned.
Opposition politician Grigol Gegelia of the Lelo party said Tuesday that even considering the banning of political parties showed Georgia is moving increasingly toward the political systems in Belarus and Russia.
Georgian Dream says the case is not about suppressing ordinary political opposition, but parties that threaten the constitutional order.
Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused the targeted groups of rejecting state institutions, undermining elections and democratic processes, and sharing political goals with figures involved in the October 4, 2025 rally.
