MP Matikashvili: Gakharia’s political group is part of collective National Movement

“When Gakharia’s political group returned from the political ‘absence,’ its path toward the collective National Movement was clearly reflected in its collaboration and political processes with the UNM,” Georgian Dream member Davit Matikashvili said.

According to Matikashvili, members of Gakharia’s party demonstrate what he described as unconstitutional behavior through their actions.

“We know well how they formed tandems in municipal councils and so on. Despite the process of their return, this political group continues along the path of non-recognition, which, under the Constitution of Georgia, is directed against our society. In practice, they do not recognize democracy, the government, or the people who voted for the political force they support — Georgian Dream.

“In this context, they demonstrate unconstitutional behavior through their actions. Therefore, the parliamentary majority made the decision concerning something we already knew well: that Gakharia and his political group constitute part of the collective UNM. This is confirmed by a number of circumstances, all of which are already included in the constitutional claim, and the Constitutional Court should consider them.

“We will await the decision of the Constitutional Court. At this stage, the claim still needs to be filed. The argument that this is supposedly related to a deadline is also far-fetched, because the Constitutional Court has a nine-month maximum period. It is entirely possible for the court to make a decision much sooner,” Matikashvili said.