Demonstrators in Tbilisi protested against the ban on opposition parties.
On the 693rd day of continuous pro-European actions, protesters gathered in the center of Tbilisi. The demonstrators demanded to maintain multipartyism in the country.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on October 20, on the 692nd day of continuous pro-European actions, participants in the gathering in the center of Tbilisi called for the protection of freedom of speech and expressed support for the arrested journalist Vakho Sanai.
Today, on the 693rd day of continuous protests, citizens gathered near the building of the parliament and the city council of the capital of Georgia. The participants of the action traditionally demanded a return of the country to the Euro-Atlantic course, the release of political prisoners, the abolition of repressive mechanisms, and the holding of elections in a free and fair environment, reports Publika.
The gathered brought flags of Georgia, the European Union, the USA, and Ukraine to the parliament building. The demonstrators held placards: "The fight for freedom continues", "Freedom for Afghan Sadigov", "Resistance to legalized injustice is inevitable", "Being a coward means betraying the homeland", "Do not stop the fight", and "You cannot defeat democracy", according to photos on the page of photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili (Mo Se) on Facebook*.
Some placards expressed citizens' outrage regarding the consideration in the Constitutional Court of Georgia of the lawsuit by the "Georgian Dream" to ban opposition parties: "You cannot take away our multipartyism, it is our achievement", "How can you continue to live as if nothing is happening?!", "You cannot cancel people", "You cannot defeat democracy", and "Democracy cannot exist without opposition, the fire of oligarchy".
Today, the Constitutional Court of Georgia began considering the lawsuit of the "Georgian Dream" to ban five opposition parties. During the substantive hearing, the court plenary did not satisfy any of the motions from the opposition representatives, the publication reports.
The "Georgian Dream" justified its demand to ban opposition parties by Article 23 of the Constitution of Georgia. It prohibits the creation and activities of parties whose goals are the violent change of the constitutional order, encroachment on the independence and territorial integrity of the country, propaganda of war and violence, or incitement of hatred. A reference has been prepared on "Caucasian Knot" titled "Main points about the ban on opposition parties in Georgia".
In particular, Ana Tsitlidze, a member of the "National Movement", demanded the removal of all seven judges, while Kahi Samkharadze, a representative of the "Strong Georgia - Lelo" party, demanded the removal of three judges: Vasila Roinishvili, Gogi Kikilashvili, and Sergo Metopishvili. The court found that doubts about the impartiality of the judges were not properly substantiated.
The "Gakharia for Georgia" party demanded that its case be considered separately from the cases of other parties. The court also rejected this motion.
Members of the "National Movement" Ana Tsitlidze and Khatia Dekanoidze also demanded to summon Mikheil Saakashvili, Levan Khabeishvili, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and several representatives of the "Georgian Dream" government as witnesses. The court also did not satisfy these requests, as it assessed that the party failed to substantiate what specific circumstances could be confirmed by the witnesses.
The leader of the "Coalition for Change" Nika Gvaramia demanded to exclude from the list of evidence the conclusion of the investigative commission of Tea Tsulukiani and related materials. This request was supported by "Lelo" and "Gakharia for Georgia". According to Gvaramia, the commission was created in violation of constitutional principles, its materials were obtained unlawfully, and have no legal force.
In February 2005, a parliamentary commission began working in Georgia to study the "crimes of the regime" of Mikheil Saakashvili from 2003 to 2012. The commission intended to prove that the "Five-Day War" in 2008 was initiated by the third president of Georgia. Eight opposition members were convicted for failing to comply with the commission's demands: leaders of the "Lelo" party Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japariidze, one of the leaders of the "Coalition for Change" Zurab Japariidze, leader of the "Strategy Agmashenebeli" party Giorgi Vashadze, former head of the parliamentary committee on defense and security Givi Targamadze, and leaders of the "Akhal" party Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, and Irakli Okruashvili.
Gvaramia also emphasized that a significant part of the lawsuit to ban parties is based on the conclusion of the commission and the findings made on its basis. He also demanded that the commission clarify which facts in the lawsuit pertain to which side. The court refused to exclude the commission's conclusion from the list of evidence. According to the chairman of the court Revaz Nadaraia, a document whose illegality has not been proven is valid, but its inclusion in the case does not mean that the court will unconditionally accept it.
The session was adjourned until tomorrow at the stage of considering motions.
Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Law enforcement has conducted harsh dispersals of protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detaining protesters. During the protests, thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution. A reference has been prepared by "Caucasian Knot" titled "Main points about the persecution of protest participants in Georgia".