TBILISI, October 27 – Georgia’s Constitutional Court is continuing hearings on a lawsuit seeking to ban five opposition parties, with the case moving from procedural disputes into arguments over whether the groups acted together against the constitutional order.
The case opened on October 21 before a seven-judge panel. It was filed by 88 members of parliament and targets the United National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia-Lelo, the Federalists and former PM Gakharia’s For Georgia party.
The lawmakers behind the case argue that the five parties have for years acted as a common political bloc and taken part in what the lawsuit describes as unconstitutional activity, including attempts to undermine Georgia’s elected authorities and state interests. The lawsuit is backed partly by the findings of a parliamentary investigative commission.
The opposition rejects that argument and says ordinary political cooperation is being recast as grounds for banning parties.
Archil Gorduladze, a Georgian Dream lawmaker and chairman of parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, said Tuesday that the case was not about political cooperation itself. He said the parties were accused of cooperating in actions harmful to the country and contrary to the Constitution.
He also argued that a party’s failure to distance itself from violent actions can have legal consequences, citing European Court of Human Rights case law. Gorduladze said the plaintiffs are asking only for the parties to be banned and are not seeking automatic removal of MPs from parliament.
The opposition has challenged both the evidence and the way the hearings are being conducted.
On the opening day, opposition representatives asked for some or all of the judges to be removed from the case, but the court rejected the requests.
Gakharia for Georgia later asked for the hearing to be delayed by one month, arguing that it had not been given the required time to prepare its response. The court rejected that request as well.
Party representative Berdia Sichinava said Tuesday that Georgian Dream had failed to show with facts and evidence why his party’s activity violated the Constitution.
Strong Georgia-Lelo leader Badri Japaridze called the case political persecution and said his party would use all available legal means to challenge it.
The hearings were continuing Tuesday, with the court still hearing explanations from the parties.
