Georgian Speaker: Constitutional lawsuit targeting opposition parties nears completion

Georgia’s Parliament is preparing to submit a constitutional lawsuit this week that aims to ban the participation of certain individuals and parties in the country’s political process, Shalva Papuashvili, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, said. 

According to him, the lawsuit is currently in the final stages of review, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media. 

“I believe we will be submitting the constitutional lawsuit this week. The lawsuit is ready, and the final stages of review are currently in progress,” he said. 

Papuashvili emphasised the complexity of the case and the need to ensure it is “well-founded and appropriately standardised.”

“We are actively working on this within the parliament. The lawsuit is nearly complete; the remaining issues are being carefully examined to ensure it meets the highest standards. This is a significant process, and the lawsuit must reflect that. Extremist groups are not opponents; they have no place in a democratic society. Enemies of democracy should not be able to exploit the democratic process against it.

Therefore, we have put mechanisms in place to prevent parties that violate the Constitution from taking part in the political process. You will soon see the details of the lawsuit. We have considered numerous options, and all past legislative shortcomings have been rectified. There is also a provision regarding successor parties. Ultimately, our primary goal is to ensure that those who oppose democracy are excluded from the political arena,” Papuashvili said.

A reminder that on october 16, the Georgian Dream parliament has approved, in its final reading, a legislative package that would strip individuals “associated” with parties declared unconstitutional of their passive voting rights, including the right to found or join political parties, run in elections, or hold public office.

By Sabina Mammadli