Davit Matikashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Procedural Issues and Rules Committee, commented on Constitutional Court Judge Manana Kobakhidze’s decision to step down. Speaking to journalists, Matikashvili said that Kobakhidze’s initial request to recuse herself from the case was illogical, while her decision to leave office amounted to an attempt to evade responsibility.

“At the initial stage, we saw a completely illogical request from the judge, who sought to recuse herself from the case, but her request was denied. She then left the Constitutional Court. All of this looks like an attempt to evade responsibility, which, of course, is not appropriate conduct for a judge,” Davit Matikashvili said.

Davit Matikashvili also commented on the scheduling of hearings on the constitutional claim seeking to ban opposition parties, noting that the proceedings before the Constitutional Court were significant.

“Defensive democracy entails a positive obligation on the part of the state to create all the necessary conditions for the court to examine the matter in judicial proceedings and make a decision on banning parties that are unconstitutional and act against the state and the constitutional order.

“We are witnessing precisely these proceedings, which will take place before the Constitutional Court. It is important that the Constitutional Court make the only correct decision based on the facts, namely, to ban unconstitutional parties,” Davit Matikashvili said.

For reference, hearings on the constitutional claim seeking to ban opposition parties have been scheduled to begin on October 21, according to posts published by opposition figures on social media.