UNM’s Tsitlidze: GD has failed to explain why it seeks to ban National Movement

“If Georgian Dream is challenging us in its lawsuit over individual decisions made by specific public officials, what does that have to do with banning the United National Movement as a political party today?” Ana Tsitlidze, a representative of the United National Movement, said at today’s hearing at the Constitutional Court.

According to Tsitlidze, none of the individuals cited as examples by the investigative commission and held responsible for certain actions served as party officials between 2003 and 2012.

As for mistakes and the question of distancing the party from certain incidents, Tsitlidze said that since 2012, the United National Movement and Mikheil Saakashvili had made numerous statements, including about the mistakes made by the party.

“Our main question to the plaintiff, including during the substantive hearing, was: what exactly are they accusing us of? They are seeking to ban a political party because of decisions made by the state between 2003 and 2012, correct? That is the reality. How relevant is it to ban a political party over decisions made by the state? A political party should be banned based on its objectives and actions. Naturally, we asked what Georgian Dream was accusing us of in its lawsuit. Even after their response yesterday, we still could not understand. If they are challenging us over individual decisions made by specific public officials, what does that have to do with banning the United National Movement as a political party today?

How many ministers, deputy ministers and public officials did the government of that time have between 2003 and 2012, and how many of them were party officials? I can tell you with full responsibility that the majority were not. It has been said many times that the United National Movement does not distance itself from certain things and does not speak about its mistakes, and so on. We have never said that. On the contrary, since 2012, the United National Movement, including Mikheil Saakashvili, has made numerous statements, including about the mistakes made by the party. Moreover, statements have also been made to the effect that none of the former political officeholders should hold public office again. When I say this, it is in response to your claims; it does not mean that I am distancing myself from anything that happened between 2003 and 2012. In response to your question, I can tell you that none of the state ministers or ministers serving between 2003 and 2012 was a party official.

For example, the investigative commission has cited cases against us, including those involving Zurab Adeishvili. Between 2003 and 2012, Zurab Adeishvili was not a party official. There are also cases involving Vano Merabishvili. Between 2003 and 2012, he was not a party official either. None of the individuals cited as examples by the investigative commission and held responsible for certain actions served as party officials,” Tsitlidze said.

Georgian Dream’s constitutional lawsuit seeks to have the activities of the United National Movement, the Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, the Federalists, and Gakharia for Georgia declared unconstitutional and banned.