Constitutional Court ruling on party ban may legitimise Russia’s claims against Georgia, opposition leader Japaridze

Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition, has warned that a Constitutional Court ruling on a case seeking to ban opposition parties could create a dangerous legal precedent that Russia might use against Georgia.

Speaking at the Constitutional Court on Thursday, Japaridze said the case raised serious concerns about Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, arguing that its reasoning appeared to suggest Georgia itself had contributed to the circumstances that led to Russia’s 2008 aggression.

“This is an attempt to shift responsibility from the aggressor to the victim,” Japaridze said.

He warned that if the court accepted this reasoning, it could establish a precedent in which avoiding confrontation with Russia became a constitutional obligation.

Japaridze claimed such an interpretation could lead to criticism of Russia’s occupation being treated as sabotage or provocation, while Georgia’s foreign policy and Euro-Atlantic course could be portrayed as threats to national security and deemed unconstitutional.

“The court’s decision could become a decisive legal argument in Russia’s hands. No state institution in Georgia has the right to create such a threat, let alone legitimise it at the constitutional level,” he said.