Georgia's Constitutional Court to hear bid to ban five opposition parties

Georgia's Constitutional Court will hold substantive hearings on a lawsuit brought by Georgian Dream lawmakers seeking to declare five opposition parties unconstitutional and ban them.

The case concerns Unity–National Movement, Coalition for Change–Gvaramia, Melia, Girchi, Droa, Strong Georgia–Lelo, For the People, For Freedom!, the Federalist Party and Gakharia for Georgia, led by former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia.

The claimants allege that the parties attempted to change the constitutional order, rejected the legitimacy of elected institutions and participated in actions against the state. Regarding the United National Movement, they also cite alleged threats to the country's independence and territorial integrity.

The Constitutional Court's plenum will hear the case. Hearings are scheduled for October 21, 22 and 23, with each session starting at 12.00.