Lasha Tugushi: Banning parties is an attempt to establish a dictatorship, they are heading there with a kilometer-long scythe, how can they stay close to the European Union? - "Georgian Dream" has chosen a very dangerous path
According to the assessment of Lasha Tughushi, head of the "Liberal Academy," the constitutional lawsuit filed by "Georgian Dream" regarding the banning of three opposition parties is a step toward dictatorship.
As he stated on PalitraNews's program "Resume," the process contradicts the path to integration with the European Union, because a country whose closest goal is to join the EU is effectively moving toward authoritarian approaches.
"It's an attempt to create a dictatorship. To ban the main opposition parties and speak in one voice, and to do this through the Constitutional Court - this is a step toward dictatorship, not just authoritarianism. In a country that wants to join the European Union - they say we'll be closest to the EU - how will they be close when they are leaping kilometers to get where we all know very well... That is, if a party gets stronger, they immediately ban it. If a party becomes interesting to society, it must be banned. It's not just banning; the outlines of prison are visible, and the destruction of people. Unfortunately, this is not a game; this is a very heavy story in Georgia's recent history," Lasha Tughushi stated.
He also emphasizes that the government's actions violate the Constitution and existing laws.
According to Tughushi, government representatives are already in such a difficult situation that, under the current circumstances, they no longer have the opportunity to win even by falsifying elections.
"Everything contradicts the Constitution. In my opinion, they are doing the opposite of what is written in the Constitution. The Constitution is being violated, criminal law, a million laws that are in force are being violated. Do we exist in a legal space today? If elections are held and the opposition participates, they will no longer be able to win even by falsification. They are in such a difficult situation today that they are doomed to defeat. Under normal opposition conditions, their chance of winning elections is 0.01%. We couldn't say this in 2023 or 2024. Under today's circumstances, everything is clear. This is a very dangerous path that these people have chosen," Lasha Tughushi stated.