Speaking from Germany, former Georgian Prime Minister and opposition politician Giorgi Gakharia responded in English to the Georgian Dream party’s initiative to ban his political party. According to Gakharia, the “Bidzina Ivanishvili regime” “could not tolerate” the presence of even a single opposition party in parliament.
“Despite severe restrictions, we have consistently participated in all elections, believing it to be the only peaceful and democratic path to political change,” Gakharia wrote on X.
The politician pointed out that his party remains the only opposition force currently operating in the Georgian parliament:
“Despite holding a parliamentary majority, Ivanishvili’s regime could not tolerate the presence of even a single opposition party in parliament, because they cannot counter criticism with compelling arguments,” he stated.
In his assessment, “this is another step by Ivanishvili’s regime to suppress Georgia and the political opposition in order to formalize authoritarian rule.”
“Whether they ban us or not, we will not back down in restoring democracy in Georgia and defending its European and Euro-Atlantic path,” he emphasized.
On September 14, Georgian Dream announced that it would petition the Constitutional Court to ban yet another opposition party—”For Georgia” (Gakharia for Georgia). The authorities added the former prime minister’s political movement, along with the Federalists, seven months after initially filing the lawsuit with the Constitutional Court. Other parties facing bans through the Constitutional Court include the United National Movement, the Coalition for Change – Gvaramia, Melia, Girchi, Droa, and Strong Georgia – Lelo.
According to Georgian Dream, these parties were involved in political processes—namely “unconstitutional actions, including sabotage against the Georgian state”—and have “over many years voiced qualitatively identical positions.”