Appeals Court to review election annulment cases without party participation

The Georgian Appeals Court will deliberate today on lawsuits filed by the Unity – National Movement, Strong Georgia, and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), challenging the results of the October 26 parliamentary elections, without the participation of the parties involved.

Nona Kurdovanidze, GYLA’s chairperson, criticized the court’s decision, calling it an attempt to avoid any inconvenience during the case review. She argued that excluding the parties from the session undermined justice and public trust, especially as the case concerns the electoral rights of 90% of voters, who had cast their votes electronically.

“We expected today’s session to allow us to present our positions and evidence before the court,” Kurdovanidze said. “Instead, we’ve been informed the hearing at 16:00 will proceed without oral arguments. This undermines public interest, denies us the opportunity to highlight crucial evidence, and effectively silences the parties.”

The Tbilisi City Court previously rejected the combined lawsuits after 13 hours of deliberation, despite claims from the plaintiffs that secret voting procedures were violated during the elections. According to Kurdovanidze, the evidence, including photo and video documentation, has not been sufficiently considered.

While the court is legally permitted to bypass oral hearings in some cases, Kurdovanidze insists the significance of this dispute warrants a full and transparent review.

“This decision to proceed without hearing the parties ignores the case’s critical importance and the public’s interest,” she said, adding that the court’s approach appears aimed at expediting the process without due scrutiny.