Maia Kopaleishvili: Archil Gorduladze said, "To ensure that we do not leave a threat for future generations, these political parties must be banned"; Archil Gorduladze and Tornike Cheishvili were my students, and I would like to know: what threat do I pose?

“Mr. Archil Gorduladze and Mr. Tornike Cheishvili were my students when they studied at Tbilisi State University. I would like to know what threat I, Maia Kopaleishvili, pose. How can you tell me that my colleagues and I supposedly pose a threat to the future of this country?” Maia Kopaleishvili, a representative of the Coalition for Change, addressed representatives of the plaintiff, Georgian Dream, at the Constitutional Court while the respondent side was presenting its arguments.

As she noted, multiparty politics is a cornerstone of democracy in the country, and Georgian Dream is abolishing it.

“As you know, today is October 28. On October 28, 1990, Georgia held its first free, multiparty elections, which laid the groundwork for important developments and ultimately led us to the restoration of state independence on April 9, 1991. This marks the 36th anniversary of those multiparty elections, and it is tragic that we are now being forced to witness the very system of multiparty democracy being abolished through a lawsuit initiated by members of the Georgian Dream parliamentary majority.

“In his opening remarks, Archil Gorduladze said that these political parties must be banned to ensure that we do not leave a threat to future generations and to prevent any threat to the state, and that this is how we should protect democracy.

“I want to remind you that Mr. Archil Gorduladze and Mr. Tornike Cheishvili were my students when they studied at Tbilisi State University. I would like to know what threat I, Maia Kopaleishvili, pose. Throughout my life, ever since Georgia gained its independence and freedom during the transitional period, I have fought for justice, the rule of law, the establishment of a democratic state and the supremacy of the law in this country. How can you tell me that my colleagues and I supposedly pose a threat to this country's future?

“Mr. Gorduladze also stated that democracy must be protected. But how will you protect democracy, or how are you protecting it, when you are abolishing multiparty elections and multiparty politics in this country, which are cornerstones of democracy, while seeking to establish a one-party system under your own party?

“So, gentlemen, your words do not match your actions. Political parties are judged by their actions, not by empty words. I strongly urge you to approach this matter with greater seriousness when speaking about us,” Maia Kopaleishvili stated.