Ana Tsitlidze: Judges will issue a decision written in the Kremlin – Will they ban us? We will continue the fight regardless
The lawsuit filed is not a legal one; it is a political lawsuit drafted not in the Georgian Dream office, but in the Kremlin. Our strategy is to continue the fight. There is no force capable of stopping the United National Movement in this process. Will they ban us? We will continue the fight regardless. This is what Ana Tsitlidze, a member of the United National Movement, told journalists outside the Constitutional Court, where the hearing of a constitutional lawsuit—seeking to have political parties declared unconstitutional—is set to begin.
As Tsitlidze noted, the lawsuit is directed not merely against the United National Movement or other political parties, but against the sovereignty and freedom of Georgia.
"This lawsuit has absolutely nothing to do with a legal process. The current proceedings are not legal in nature, and the lawsuit itself is not a legal instrument. It is a political lawsuit—one that was, in reality, drafted not in the offices of Georgian Dream, but in the Kremlin. This lawsuit is directed not against the United National Movement or other political parties, but against the sovereignty and freedom of Georgia itself. The Constitutional Court should not have even accepted this case for consideration, as the lawsuit itself is unconstitutional. If anyone desires for these proceedings to unfold within the Constitutional Court—with the aim of establishing, through this very lawsuit, that it was Georgia, not Russia, that started the 2008 war—that party is Russia. This is precisely what the Constitutional Court is being asked to legitimize. It is significant to consider who the individuals are that are sitting in judgment of the United National Movement and the 'nine-year' period. This is, among other things, an attempt to rewrite the history of Georgia. Today, we have presented evidence regarding who, in reality, should be held accountable in this country for the systemic crimes that have been taking place across all sectors since 2012—crimes perpetrated through Georgian Dream. We demand that the Constitutional Court include this as a factual circumstance in the case file and consider it accordingly. We do not expect the Constitutional Court to reach any different decision, because the judges are members of the "clan." They will deliver the decision that has been written in the Kremlin. Our strategy will be to continue the fight. There is no force that can stop the United National Movement in this process. There is no obstacle that will hold us back. Will they ban us? We will continue the fight regardless," stated Tsitlidze.
For context, the Constitutional Court begins reviewing a petition filed by the ruling team today, which seeks to ban certain political parties. The petition submitted to the Constitutional Court is signed by 88 Members of Parliament. Based on this filing, the Court will consider whether the following five political entities should be declared unconstitutional: "Unity – National Movement"; "Coalition for Change – Gvaramia, Melia, Girchi, Droa"; "Strong Georgia – Lelo, For the People, For Freedom!"; the "Federalist Party"; and the party "Gakharia for Georgia." The hearing of the case is scheduled for October 21, 22, and 23.
