Nineteen Georgian non-governmental organizations have spoken out against a lawsuit filed by the ruling "Georgian Dream" party seeking to ban five opposition parties. They argue that the case, currently before the Constitutional Court, marks a new phase in the restriction of political competition and could leave hundreds of thousands of voters without representation.

"This action will deal a final blow to the already fragile public trust in the electoral process, render future elections entirely meaningless, destroy any prospect for a peaceful and democratic transfer of power, and effectively formalize a one-party dictatorship," the organizations stated in a joint declaration.

The lawsuit targets the "United National Movement," "Coalition for Change," "Strong Georgia — Lelo," the "Gakharia for Georgia" party, and the "Federalists." The plaintiffs are seeking a ruling that these parties' activities are unconstitutional, calling for them to be banned and their registrations annulled.

According to the NGOs, the lawsuit lacks a sufficient legal basis and runs counter to the Constitution of Georgia, as well as the standards set by the European Court of Human Rights and the Venice Commission. The organizations point out that the accusations are primarily rooted in the findings of a temporary parliamentary investigative commission led by Tea Tsulukiani. The signatories argue that this document carries no legal weight and that the commission itself was established in violation of both the Constitution and parliamentary procedural rules.

In the lawsuit, "Georgian Dream" and its affiliated party, "People's Power," accuse the opposition of attempting an unconstitutional seizure of power, undermining the legitimacy of state institutions, and acting against the country's territorial integrity. The arguments cited include boycotting parliamentary proceedings, refusing to recognize election results, participating in protests, and cooperation among opposition parties. In a joint statement, various NGOs emphasize that interpreting such legitimate actions in this manner poses a threat to political pluralism.

A significant portion of the allegations in the lawsuit relies on the findings of the Tsulukiani Commission, which examined the actions of Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration between 2003 and 2012. Its report addresses, among other issues, the torture and mistreatment of prisoners, violations of the right to privacy, pressure on the media, and the circumstances surrounding the war in August 2008. The plaintiffs also point to rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the report of the international commission that investigated the 2008 war.

According to official data from the Central Election Commission, five parties received a combined total of 784,830 votes—representing nearly 38% of the electorate—in the 2024 parliamentary elections. The authors of the statement argue that banning these parties would deprive a substantial segment of society of the ability to influence the country’s political life through their elected representatives.

The NGOs have urged the Constitutional Court to consider the case independently and in accordance with human rights standards; they have called on citizens to oppose the restriction of political choice, and on international partners to monitor the proceedings closely.

The court is scheduled to review the lawsuit between October 21 and 23. Parliament submitted the latest request to ban the five parties on September 24, following the inclusion of the "Gakharia for Georgia" party in the list. Under the law, the Constitutional Court has nine months from the date the lawsuit is registered to reach a verdict.