Strong Georgia – Lelo files constitutional complaint against party ban law

The political movement Strong Georgia – Lelo will file a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court, demanding that the law adopted by Georgian Dream on banning political parties be declared unconstitutional. The party’s press service released this information.

According to the statement, one of the party’s leaders, Giorgi Sioridze, will submit the complaint to the court by 3:00 p.m.

“Today, the political movement Strong Georgia – Lelo is filing a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court of Georgia, demanding that the recently adopted legislation on banning political parties be declared unconstitutional. The complaint was prepared in cooperation with a group of constitutional law experts, who will also participate in the proceedings.

One of the party’s leaders, Giorgi Sioridze, is currently in Batumi finalizing the legal documentation with the local team. According to the party, the lawsuit will be formally submitted to the Constitutional Court at 3:00 p.m.

The movement also intends to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights after the Constitutional Court review, arguing that the ban on political parties and the restriction of citizens’ participation in political life constitute a grave constitutional violation. According to Strong Georgia – Lelo, these changes mark another anti-constitutional step by the Georgian Dream regime and pose a serious threat to democracy, paving the way for authoritarian rule.

The law’s provisions preventing individuals affiliated with banned parties from taking part in political activity are absurd, repressive and unconstitutional, as they contradict several articles of the Georgian Constitution, including Articles 23, 25, 31 and 60, as well as international legal standards.

In particular, the restriction runs counter to Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 22 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and paragraph 7.6 of the OSCE Copenhagen Document, which obliges participating states to guarantee the right to form political parties and engage in political activity freely,” the statement says.