Deputy Secretary General of the United National Movement (UNM) party, Irakli Pavlenishvili, has condemned the law on banning political parties, describing it as fundamentally authoritarian.

Pavlenishvili asserts that all rights are being severely curtailed.

“Georgia is passing laws that not only undermine political activity but also suppress the right to hold a critical opinion altogether. Under the same logic, a law could be enacted that prevents people with dissenting views from even walking the streets. Every form of rights is being trampled upon.

This is a clear example of establishing a dictatorship, and it’s likely to be included in future curricula as such. I genuinely cannot recall any precedent in other countries where not just dozens, but hundreds of politicians are banned from engaging in political activities.

Their own estimates show that up to a million Georgian citizens are effectively prevented from voting. Those who participated in previous elections will cease to exist politically; they will no longer have the opportunity to participate.

This is one of the most authoritarian, draconian laws this country has ever seen,” Irakli Pavlenishvili stated.