Constitutional Court Rejects Motion by 'Gakharia' Party, Discontent Voiced in Courtroom

The plenum of the Constitutional Court did not satisfy a motion by the party 'Gakharia for Georgia' to postpone consideration of the lawsuit on banning parties. The decision caused discontent among politicians present in the courtroom. According to Judge Revaz Nadaraia, the ruling is final.

Nadaraia noted that the party should have applied to the court with the motion in due time, and now the decision has already been made. "The party should have applied in time if it wanted to postpone the hearing, if some period was insufficient for it. We have been holding the session for the third day, and now a motion to postpone is being raised. A decision has been made! The court has given an explanation, and whether you like it or not, what can I do?!" he said.

Responding to Nadaraia from the courtroom, Berdia Sichinava, representative of 'Gakharia for Georgia', said that he had no intention of delaying the case when filing the motion. "My turn to file motions came today. First I requested separating the case, and then postponement. If I had the goal of delaying, I would have filed countless motions, I have business-like motions. Please, let me use my time" Sichinava said.

Judge Eva Gotsiridze further explained the plenum's decision. According to her, although there was one week to familiarize with the lawsuit, the impression remains that the party is well prepared.

"Don't leave the impression that the court will not accept any documentation from you, a statement of defense, or opinions. This process continues and, as it seems, will not end this quickly. You will have that one month provided for by the regulations.

Yes, one week may not be such a long time, but we simply think that you are prepared. You leave the impression that you are well prepared. So we think it is somewhat artificial, isn't it. This lawsuit was submitted a long time ago and there was also discussion in society. Yes, your party was added, but the lawsuit was submitted a long time ago," Gotsiridze said.

Responding to Gotsiridze from the courtroom, the leader of 'Coalition for Change', Nika Gvaramia, said that "a lawsuit before it is accepted for proceedings is waste paper". "Ms. Eva, you know better than me, a lawsuit is not waste paper until you accept it for proceedings. What obligation do we have to process a lawsuit that has not been accepted for proceedings?" he said.

Berdia Sichinava also responded to Gotsiridze: "If something was written about the 'United National Movement' 8 months ago, I should have processed it because Archil Gorduladze might have thought that I could add it as a fifth party?"