Georgia’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday opened hearings on a ruling party bid to ban five pro-Europe opposition parties, a move critics warn could sound the death knell for democracy in the country.
The hearings come amid a protracted political crisis sparked by disputed parliamentary elections in 2024 and the government’s decision to suspend European Union accession talks.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
The lawsuit, brought by 88 lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party, accuses its political rivals of seeking to “overthrow the constitutional order and undermine Georgia’s independence” -- allegations rejected by the opposition.
It targets all of Georgia’s main opposition groups: jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s “United National Movement (UNM)”, as well as “Coalition for Change”, “Lelo-Strong Georgia”, “the Federalists” and former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia’s “For Georgia” party.
“We are proving through our lawsuit that these political parties are inherently unconstitutional,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said ahead of the hearing.
“They are... infecting our political system with an unconstitutional spirit. This must change,” he added, describing opposition leaders as “liberal fascists.”
The lawsuit “is directed against Georgia’s sovereignty and freedom,” UNM leader Ana Tsitlidze told journalists outside the court, saying it had been “drafted in the Kremlin.”
Other Topics of Interest
Over 113,000 Russians Flee to Georgia Amid Draft Rumors
More than 113,000 Russians entered Georgia in a single week amid rumors of a new military draft, straining borders and housing markets.
“Will they ban us? We will keep fighting anyway.”
“This is the abolition of democracy and the constitution in the country,” said Levan Tsitskiridze, a leader of opposition Freedom Square party.
- ‘Freedoms at risk’ -
The hearing began in the Black Sea city of Batumi, the constitutional court’s seat, according to a live broadcast on the court’s YouTube channel.
The court -- which critics say is dominated by ruling party loyalists -- has until June 2027 to deliver its decision.
Opposition parties have announced a major protest rally on November 28.
The European Commission warned Monday that the proceedings risked eroding democratic practices in Georgia.
They “point to a worrying instrumentalisation of the judicial system,” said European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand.
“This puts fundamental freedoms, democratic pluralism, and fair political competition at risk.”
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset also warned on Tuesday that the hearings were taking “place against a backdrop of growing restrictions on civil society, independent media and freedom of peaceful assembly”.
“Taken together, these developments risk undermining the checks and balances essential to democratic governance in Georgia,” he cautioned in a statement.
The Georgian government’s November 2024 decision to shelve efforts to open EU membership talks until at least 2028 sparked mass protests, which authorities met with a violent crackdown.
Critics say that the authorities have since jailed opposition figures and activists and adopted laws tightening restrictions on protests, civil society and independent media.
The European Union says democratic backsliding under the government has brought Georgia’s accession process to an effective halt.
EU membership is enshrined in Georgia’s constitution and – according to opinion polls – is supported by more than 80 percent of the population.
Georgian Dream rejects the criticisms, saying its opponents are seeking to destabilise the country.
The party -- in power since 2012 -- initially positioned itself as liberal and pro-Western, but has shifted course in recent years, accusing the West of seeking to drag Georgia into Russia’s war against Ukraine.