Ruling party seeks to ban opposition parties to erase Georgia’s achievements against Russia, opposition leader Khoshtaria

The ruling party’s lawsuit seeking to ban opposition parties is aimed at erasing Georgia’s achievements in defending its sovereignty against Russia and rewriting history, Elene Khoshtaria, a jailed leader of the Coalition for Change, has claimed.

In a letter released from prison on Friday, Khoshtaria said the case would effectively prevent all registered pro-Western parties from participating in elections, depriving Georgian citizens of their political choices.

She argued that although the lawsuit formally concerns five parties, the number should be seven. According to Khoshtaria, Girchi and Droa have technically become part of the Ahali party under what she described as legislation introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Khoshtaria said politicians themselves could not be banned, even through imprisonment, but their participation in elections could be prohibited. She described this as effectively banning elections in the country.

“The choice cannot be banned,” she wrote, arguing that restricting opposition parties from elections would mean denying citizens the right to choose their representatives.

Khoshtaria added the move targets Georgian citizens who support freedom and the country’s European identity, which she claimed are unacceptable to Russia, including Georgians aligned with Moscow.

She further argued that the lawsuit was intended to make Georgia act according to Russia’s interests rather than the will of its own population.

Khoshtaria also claimed that the process could undermine Georgia’s international legal achievements in establishing Russia’s responsibility for the war and its status as an occupying power and aggressor.