Sioridze dismisses ruling party’s ‘absurd’ lawsuit, questioning how 16-year-old events could apply to Lelo

“For two days we asked for clarification on which episodes in this contrived, absurd lawsuit relate to which party,” said Giorgi Sioridze, a member of Lelo – Strong Georgia.

Sioridze said the party cannot understand how events spanning 16 years can be attributed to Strong Georgia – Lelo.

“Strong Georgia – Lelo was founded in December 2019, yet the lawsuit covers various episodes going back to 2003. We cannot understand how events spanning 16 years can be attributed to Strong Georgia – Lelo. Nor can we understand how some other parts of the lawsuit could be consistent with the rules of formal logic.

That is exactly what we asked to have clarified, and we filed motions to that effect, but over two days neither the judges nor the claimant were able to explain it to us. The motions that would have allowed these questions to be clarified were rejected. Of course, we understand very well how big the order is and what the plan is: for the Constitutional Court to put its seal on Bidzina Ivanishvili’s aims and plans. We also saw Manana Kobakhidze’s attempt to avoid taking part in this process. The court rejected her motion, after which she voluntarily gave up her mandate as a judge. Nobody wants to face the judgement of society on the one hand, and on the other, the danger that taking part in this farce could bring from the international community, including sanctions,” Sioridze said.

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 on 21 October.