Nika Gvaramia: This lawsuit bans not just parties but a whole generation of educated, patriotic, pro-Western Georgians

Nika Gvaramia, leader of the Coalition for Change, set out his position on the lawsuit at the Constitutional Court in Batumi, where the court is holding its substantive hearing on the constitutionality and banning of five political parties.

Gvaramia said the lawsuit goes beyond just banning five parties, calling that move a mere formal smokescreen for what is actually happening.

“In reality, something else is being banned, and that is clear from the findings. They are banning active politicians, that is, individuals. This is not only a ban on parties. This conclusion and demand have their own contextual continuation in laws of this nature. I believe the application must be withdrawn, not because it forms the backbone of a political vendetta. They are banning active politicians, the brightest minds of civil society, and courageous patriots; they are banning an entire generation from politics: the educated, the hardworking, the decent, the patriotic, and the pro-Western. By banning them, they ensure only they remain: the corrupt and the betrayers of our homeland,” Nika Gvaramia stated, before being addressed by the President of the Constitutional Court, Revaz Nadaraia.

According to Nadaraia, “first and foremost, the lawsuit concerns specific political parties, and secondly, it is currently just a lawsuit. Civil society and other sectors have absolutely nothing to do with this.”

“Make your assessments elsewhere. Back them up with legal reasoning. You cannot be different from or special compared with the others; the same is required of you as of everyone else. It seems you didn’t understand what was discussed here earlier. Give legal reasoning,” the judge told him.

The Constitutional Court is hearing Georgian Dream’s constitutional lawsuit seeking to declare the United National Movement, the Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, the Federalists and Gakharia for Georgia unconstitutional and ban their activities. The hearing began today and will continue for three days.