Protesters in Tbilisi defended multipartyism
Activists gathered in the center of Tbilisi on the 694th day of continuous protests dedicated their posters to the ongoing process in the Constitutional Court of Georgia, where the lawsuit of the "Georgian Dream" regarding the ban on opposition political forces is being considered.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on October 21, on the 693rd day of continuous pro-European actions, activists in front of the Georgian Parliament demanded to preserve multipartyism in the country against the backdrop of hearings in the Constitutional Court regarding the lawsuit of the "Georgian Dream" to ban opposition parties.
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 titled "Main points about the ban on opposition parties in Georgia" has been published on the "Caucasian Knot".
Supporters of Georgia's Eurointegration with national flags and flags of Ukraine gathered today in front of the Parliament and the Tbilisi City Council. They have been demanding the release of political prisoners, the repeal of repressive laws, a return to the Euro-Atlantic political course, and free elections for the 694th consecutive day, reports Publika.
Many of the protesters' posters today were dedicated to the ongoing process in the Constitutional Court and the expected ban on opposition parties. Citizens came to the rally with slogans such as "The country will not be free without opposition", "The Constitutional Court judges an independent Georgia", "Do not dare. You will not be able to bring back Soviet terror", and "The people's defender does not interfere in politics either?".
Protesters also had posters saying "E pluribus unum (out of many, one)", "Fight until it's too late", and "Stop snorting", according to photos on the page of photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili (Mo Se) on Facebook*.
The Constitutional Court of Georgia has not yet satisfied any of the opposition parties' petitions during the process regarding the lawsuit of the "Georgian Dream", with at least 11 petitions being rejected. The Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Revaz Nadaraya, announced at a meeting that the Constitutional Court will continue to consider the opposition's lawsuit to ban parties all of next week. The next session will begin at 12:00 on Friday, October 23, reports Pirveli.
The Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Gudrun Kugler, called on the Georgian authorities to abandon the ban on opposition parties by withdrawing their lawsuit from the Constitutional Court of the country. She also demanded an end to politically motivated persecutions and the release of arrested opposition leaders.
"Political competition should be resolved through elections and open democratic debates, not by removing political opponents through judicial processes initiated by the ruling majority," Kugler wrote on her account on X.
She reminded that the independence of the judiciary in Georgia is in doubt, and the freedom of political activity is one of the fundamental principles of democracy and is protected by the commitments of OSCE participating states.
Protest participants in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces have conducted harsh dispersals of protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and have detained protesters. Thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a reference titled "Main points about the persecution of protest participants in Georgia".