Georgia’s Constitutional Court, based in the coastal city of Batumi, starts hearing the lawsuit filed by 88 MPs of the ruling Georgian Dream party seeking to ban five major opposition forces: United National Movement (UNM), Coalition for Change, Lelo/Strong Georgia, Federalists, and Gakharia’s For Georgia. The first hearings are scheduled for October 21, 22, and 23.
The hearings will start at 12 pm and will be livestreamed on the court’s YouTube channel, as well as by the Georgian Public Broadcaster, which is the only media authorized to film the proceedings. Representatives of four of the five targeted parties – UNM, Coalition for Change, Lelo/Strong Georgia, and For Georgia – will be in the courtroom pleading their cases, while the Federalists said they will be “mocking” the proceedings from outside so as not to legitimize the process, even as they plan to stay in Batumi as part of the party’s campaign.
The court’s seven-judge plenum, seen as dominated by the ruling party loyalists, will be hearing the case, after one judge – Manana Kobakhidze – resigned after being denied her recusal request.
The proceedings have drawn widespread scrutiny and local and international criticism as an attack on democracy and political pluralism. The proceedings come as part of Georgian Dream’s broader crackdown on dissent, including funding restrictions on media and civil society, criminal proceedings against opposition leaders, and a series of laws restricting political activities for broader groups.
- Read more about the lawsuit in Civil.ge’s backgrounder.
All times are local.
October 21, 2026:
12:30 – Hearing Opens
The first hearing opens in Batumi. The seven-judge plenum presiding over the case includes:
- Revaz Nadaraia, Constitutional Court Chairman, selected by the Supreme Court plenum in 2025.
- Eva Gotsiridze, Judge, elected by the Georgian Dream-led parliament in 2017.
- Giorgi Tevdorashvili, Judge, appointed by President Salome Zourabichvili in 2021
- Goga Kikilashvili, Judge, appointed by GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili in 2026
- Sergo Metopishvili, Judge, selected by the Supreme Court plenum in 2026
- Giorgi Modebadze, Judge, appointed by GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili in 2025
- Vasil Roinishvili, Judge, selected by the Supreme Court plenum in 2020
11:00 – CSOs Condemn Opposition Ban Proceedings
19 Georgian civil society organizations condemned Georgian Dream’s constitutional lawsuit in a joint statement, calling it “a direct continuation of the ruling party’s undemocratic and repressive policies” and “a new, extremely grave stage of the country’s ongoing autocratization.”
The organizations described the lawsuits as “completely unfounded” and contrary to Georgia’s Constitution and European legal standards. They argued that the cases rely on a legally invalid parliamentary commission report and misrepresent legitimate democratic activities, including government criticism, parliamentary boycotts, peaceful protests and appeals to international partners, as attempts to overthrow the constitutional order.
The organizations said the lawsuits come amid the “systematic persecution of political opponents, critical media and civil society.” They warned that banning opposition parties would strip hundreds of thousands of voters of political representation and “formally establish a one-party dictatorship.”