Democracy will only be strengthened, and society will only benefit and rejoice as a result, the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated in connection with the commencement of the Constitutional Court’s review of the petition to ban opposition parties.

According to him, "there is no place in a democratic party landscape for parties that are enemies of the Constitution."

"In the last four years, 18 parties have been banned in Ukraine, and in the last three years, two parties have been banned in Moldova. Therefore, this has nothing to do with the threats we hear from certain actors. A party that is unconstitutional by its very nature—a party that is an enemy of the Constitution—has no place in a democratic party landscape. This is a rule that applies everywhere: in Ukraine, Moldova, and Germany; consequently, it also applies in Georgia. The process of banning a party has nothing to do with weakening democracy; on the contrary, it is a tool for strengthening it. The entire purpose of banning unconstitutional parties is to ensure that democracy possesses the capacity and the tools for self-defense, preventing the enemies of the Constitution and democracy from occupying a place in the political landscape.

In my view, especially in light of the IRI [International Republican Institute] findings and other research, the United National Movement and other parties should not be claiming that this will lead to discontent in society. They have seen the extent of their support, haven't they? It is even being discussed among them that they are hindering the democratic process in Georgia.

If the Constitutional Court finds the arguments we presented in our lawsuit convincing and declares these parties unconstitutional, democracy will only be strengthened, and society will benefit and rejoice as a result," stated Papuashvili.