Constitutional Court Rejects Motion to Recuse Judges
During the proceedings, some representatives of the respondent side
requested the recusal of the entire bench, while others sought the
recusal of specific individual judges. Ana Tsitlidze, a representative
of the "Unity - National Movement" party, stated that the lawsuit in
question is aimed not only at banning opposition political parties but
also at undermining the sovereignty and freedom of Georgia.
Representatives of the plaintiff, "Georgian Dream," opposed the
recusal motion, following which the court retired to deliberate.
Following the rejection of a motion, the substantive review of a
lawsuit filed by the ruling team has officially begun in the
Constitutional Court. The lawsuit seeks to have five opposition
parties declared unconstitutional, banned, and their registrations
revoked. The case is being heard by the Plenum of the Constitutional
Court, composed of seven judges. Substantive hearings are scheduled
for October 21, 22, and 23.The lawsuit submitted to the Constitutional
Court is signed by 88 members of the 11th convocation of Parliament.
Based on this filing, the Court is tasked with considering the
potential declaration of unconstitutionality and the banning of the
following five political entities: "Unity – National Movement";
"Coalition for Change – Gvaramia, Melia, Girchi, Droa"; "Strong
Georgia – Lelo, For the People, For Freedom!"; "Federalist Party";
"The party "Gakharia for Georgia." Arguments of the Plaintiffs and the
Conclusion of the Temporary Investigative CommissionAttached to the
constitutional lawsuit is the conclusion of a temporary investigative
commission established within the 11th convocation of Parliament.
According to the plaintiffs, the named political entities have, since
2016—in a virtually continuous manner—rejected the political
legitimacy of Georgia’s incumbent government and the ruling party,
both in terms of domestic and foreign policy. The authors of the
lawsuit assert that these parties have operated for years as a unified
coalition, engaging in unconstitutional actions, including acts of
sabotage against the state.The lawsuit cites the formation of an
"Opposition Alliance" on March 2, 2026—intended for "joint work to
achieve common goals"—as a recent example of this coalition. The
plaintiffs point out that a declared principle of this alliance is the
rejection of the legitimacy of elected bodies and public officials.
Furthermore, the lawsuit highlights platforms established through the
mediation of former President Salome Zourabichvili, as well as the
cooperation between the "ENP" [United National Movement] and the party
"Gakharia for Georgia" within the municipal councils (*sakrebulo*) of
Chkhorotsqu, Tsalenjikha, Rustavi, Zugdidi, and Senaki following the
2021 local self-government elections. Furthermore, the lawsuit notes
that although other small or fictitious parties are closely linked to
the aforementioned entities (for example: "Elene Khoshtaria – Droa,"
"Yes to Europe – Strategy Agmashenebeli," "European Georgia,"
"Republican Party," "Freedom Square," "National Democratic Party,"
"Girchi – More Freedom," etc.), there is currently no apparent
necessity to ban them, as they do not exert any substantial influence
on politics; however, the question of their unconstitutionality may
arise at a later stage.Human Rights Violations and the August 2008
WarA significant portion of the lawsuit is dedicated to the period of
the "United National Movement’s" governance from 2004 to 2012.
According to the plaintiffs, a system involving the torture and
inhumane treatment of inmates within penitentiary institutions was
established and developed during this period. The lawsuit states that
fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the European
Convention on Human Rights have been violated—including the rights
to life, health, privacy, property, and media freedom.Furthermore, the
lawsuit focuses on the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and related events. The
MPs assert that, during its time in power, the "National Movement"
systematically carried out actions that facilitated the occupation of
Georgian territories and strengthened the political position of the
occupying force.The plaintiffs claim that between 2019 and 2025, there
were six direct attempts to overthrow the constitutional order of
Georgia and alter it through violence. Consequently, the authors of
the lawsuit, signed by 88 MPs - are requesting that all five named
political parties be declared unconstitutional, that their activities
be banned, and that their registration in the Public Registry be
revoked.Proceedings in the Constitutional Court are currently ongoing.
