Georgia’s ruling party moves to ban pro-Western opposition

In Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party plans to petition the Constitutional Court to ban three of the country’s leading opposition political forces on the grounds that they are unconstitutional.

According to Interpressnews, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili made the announcement on the matter.

The parties sought to be banned include Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement, media manager Nika Gvaramia’s Coalition for Change, and businessman Mamuka Khazaradze’s Strong Georgia. All of these political forces hold a pro-Western stance.

Accusation of ‘unconstitutional activity’ against the opposition

Papuashvili said that the opposition parties are engaged in “joint unconstitutional activities” and have set “goals aimed at sabotaging state authorities.”

The Constitutional Court must rule on the petition within nine months of its submission.

If the court accepts the request, the aforementioned parties and their representatives will be banned from participating in elections, holding state positions, or forming new political entities.

In last year’s parliamentary elections, four opposition parties surpassed the electoral threshold. These were the three parties sought to be banned and former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party.

Following the elections, all of these parties refused to recognize the results and boycotted the parliament.

However, Gakharia’s party abandoned the boycott a year later and began its work.

Warning of ‘autocratic dictatorship’ from former president

Former President Salome Zourabichvili described the Georgian Dream party’s plans to ban the opposition as an “attempt to establish an autocratic dictatorship in Georgia.”

The United National Movement announced its intention to “continue the fight in the streets against the oligarchic and pro-Russian regime, regardless of the pieces of paper issued by the government.”

Tense relations with the EU

Previously, the Council of the European Union (EU) had suspended visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and officials following the adoption of regulations such as the “foreign agent law” and the “LGBT propaganda ban” in the country.

Brussels stated that it found these laws to be authoritarian and contrary to European values. The EU emphasized that such measures “undermine citizens’ rights to freedom of association and expression.”

In addition, the European Commission announced in September that it was considering imposing sanctions on Georgia.

Commission Spokesperson Anita Hipper noted that the EU was examining options to pressure Tbilisi in response to a “serious deviation from democratic principles.”

Hipper stated that these options included various steps, from restrictive measures to the suspension of visa-free travel.

According to the spokesperson, authorities in Georgia continue to suppress journalists, opposition politicians, and protesters.