Constitutional Court Resumes Hearings in Opposition Ban Case
By Messenger Staff
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Hearings resumed Monday at the Constitutional Court of Georgia in Batumi as judges continued examining a lawsuit filed by 88 lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party seeking to declare five opposition parties unconstitutional and ban their activities.
The lawsuit targets Unity-National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia-Lelo, the Federalist Party, and Gakharia for Georgia. If the court upholds the petition, the parties could be prohibited from operating, with significant consequences for political representation and competition in Georgia.
Procedural disputes marked the initial hearings, held from October 21 to 23. On Friday, representatives of Gakharia for Georgia, supported by lawyers for the United National Movement, Strong Georgia-Lelo, and Coalition for Change, requested a one-month postponement to prepare their defence. The court rejected the motion, as well as other requests submitted by opposition representatives during the first three days of proceedings.
On Monday, however, the court partially granted a separate motion by Gakharia for Georgia to admit additional evidence, including video recordings, news reports, and statements by Georgian Dream officials. It admitted some of the proposed evidence and rejected the rest. The court also rejected the party's request to summon current and former officials as witnesses, including Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.
The lawsuit draws partly on the findings of a parliamentary investigative commission. Georgian Dream argues that the targeted parties engaged in unconstitutional activities and sought to undermine Georgia's constitutional order. The opposition disputes the case, which has prompted concerns about political pluralism and judicial independence.
The proceedings have coincided with renewed public protests. On Sunday, October 25, demonstrators gathered in central Tbilisi for a rally organised by the Opposition Alliance under the slogan "Georgia Without Ivanishvili." Organisers announced plans for a larger demonstration on November 28.
The case has drawn criticism from European institutions. On October 23, rapporteurs from the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities warned that the proposed bans posed a serious threat to political pluralism and local democracy. Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset had also called on Georgia's ruling majority to preserve space for political opposition ahead of the hearings. The European Parliament has separately expressed concern over the proposed bans.
The hearings are scheduled to continue throughout the week and could extend into subsequent weeks. The court must issue its ruling by June 24, 2027, at the latest.
