Tamar Chergoleishvili, leader of the Federalists party, has responded to a statement by Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili regarding “Georgian Dream” (the ruling party) filing a new complaint with the Constitutional Court. The complaint seeks to ban several parties, now adding the Federalists to the list of those “subject to prohibition.”
Chergoleishvili stated that this changes nothing—the Federalists will not serve as “decoration for the regime.” The opposition politician noted that while the Federalists view all other parties as competitors, they seek to defeat them on equal terms in a fair fight, rather than through bans orchestrated by Bidzina Ivanishvili (the billionaire founder of Georgian Dream).
According to her, “Dream” is taking this step because the nine-month deadline for the previous lawsuit is expiring, and the authorities “lack the means to directly secure a ban on three parties; therefore, they need a new term, so they withdrew the original lawsuit and filed a new one to restart the countdown.”
“This is a demonstration of the regime’s weakness and nothing more,” Tamar Chergoleishvili emphasized.
Addressing her party’s supporters, she stressed that the government’s decision does not alter the party’s plans.
“Through protests, sanctions, and alternatives, we will force the regime to make concessions. Ultimately, the regime will naturally be replaced, and a democratic government will come to power, of which we—the Federalists—will be a part. We will establish justice in the country, ensure security for our citizens, and restore civil liberties—meaning we will repeal all ‘Russian laws,'” Tamar Chergoleishvili declared.
