TBILISI, October 13 – Georgian Constitutional Court judge Manana Kobakhidze has stepped down months before the end of her term, shortly after the court refused her request to withdraw from a lawsuit seeking to ban five opposition parties.
The Constitutional Court said Tuesday that Kobakhidze’s powers as a judge were terminated early at her own request, effective October 13. It gave no reason for her decision.
Kobakhidze had been due to remain on the court until February 2027. She was elected by parliament in February 2017 for a 10-year term.
Her departure comes after an unusual dispute inside the court over whether she should take part in a politically sensitive case aimed at outlawing five opposition parties.
Kobakhidze asked on October 9 to step aside from the case. She had argued that her past political role could raise questions about her impartiality.
Before joining the court, Kobakhidze was a founding member and former chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and served as a member of parliament. She had also publicly criticized the United National Movement, one of the parties targeted in the case.
The Constitutional Court rejected her request, saying her past political activity was not enough to disqualify her from hearing the case.
The case seeks the prohibition of five opposition groups, including the United National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia-Lelo, the Federalist Party and Gakharia for Georgia.
