UNM’s Khatia Dekanoidze ejected from Constitutional Court after demanding Ivanishvili be questioned

Khatia Dekanoidze, a representative of the United National Movement, has been ejected from the Constitutional Court’s courtroom.

Constitutional Court President Revaz Nadaraia said Dekanoidze had repeatedly ignored the court’s instructions despite several warnings.

Dekanoidze was removed shortly after she requested that Bidzina Ivanishvili be questioned.

“This process is not only about democracy, even though we believe, as very many people do, that it is and will be a catastrophe for the Georgian state. We also believe it poses a great challenge and threat to Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. Much of the lawsuit concerns Georgia–Russia relations, above all Russia’s military aggression in 2008. And it is a national catastrophe that, through this lawsuit and these accusations, Georgian Dream is blaming Georgia for Russia’s military aggression and provocation. Incidentally, Irakli Kobakhidze has elevated relations with Russia to the level of state foreign policy. I am filing a motion for Bidzina Ivanishvili to be questioned, because he single-handedly rules Georgia,” Dekanoidze said.

Nadaraia said Dekanoidze was making political statements and had not given any legal grounds for her motion.

“You are making political statements. I did not hear a single sentence of legal reasoning as to why you intend to bring this person in as a witness. You are making political statements. Since, despite several warnings, she has not obeyed the court’s instructions, she is to be removed from the courtroom,” Nadaraia said.

Nadaraia clarified that Dekanoidze is excluded from the rest of the proceedings unless the court grants a motion for her return.

The court rejected the motion to question Bidzina Ivanishvili and others.

“The Plenum could see no specific connection to the case, or what these witnesses would establish. The fact that people worked in public service at some point and held a certain post does not mean they should be questioned. A party must demonstrate the witness’s actual connection to the case, rather than relying on mere opinion. When a party files a motion to question a witness, it must show which specific facts the witness will establish in support of its position. General curiosity and interest can never be grounds for such a motion, least of all at the Constitutional Court. This is not a common court. The motion is therefore rejected,” Nadaraia 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 today and will continue for three days.