Bezhashvili: Court Is Trying to Disregard Political Context in Party Case

Levan Bezhashvili, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, claims that the Constitutional Court is trying to conduct deliberations in the case on banning parties only on legal issues and not take the political context into account. In his words, when it comes to political parties and democracy in the country, political context is most important.

According to Bezhashvili's assessment, judges, following a political assignment, are trying to justify with purely legal arguments the decision they will make regarding the banning of parties.

"At yesterday's session, it was clearly shown that although the case concerns the abolition of political parties and democracy, and therefore by its content the case is political-legal, the Constitutional Court is trying to ensure that deliberations are held only on legal issues and that political context is not taken into account at all. Yet when in reality it is a matter of political parties and democracy in the country, political context is most important. Precisely in line with a political assignment, judges are trying, relying solely and exclusively on legal arguments, to "whitewash" the future decision they will make. Today, routine procedural issues will be considered. There will be quite interesting motions from our side, which should shed light on many of the accusations that Georgian Dream has in its lawsuit. If the judges grant [the motion], this will be one more additional test of their objectivity and fairness," said Bezhashvili.

The consideration of the lawsuit on banning opposition parties at the Constitutional Court continues.