UNM plans to take part in Constitutional Court proceedings on opposition party ban

Georgia’s opposition United National Movement (UNM) will participate in upcoming proceedings at the Constitutional Court, both through its political leadership and a team of lawyers, party representative Irakli Pavlenishvili has said.

Pavlenishvili, head of the UNM’s collegial governing body, on Monday described the proceedings as a “historic process” and called on party members and supporters to gather outside the Constitutional Court in parallel with the hearings.

He said the party would be represented by political figures including Anna Tsitlidze, Levan Bezhashvili and Khatia Dekanoidze, as well as Pavlenishvili himself and a legal team.

Pavlenishvili characterised the case as “Russia’s accusation against the Georgian state”, alleging that it represented the final stage of what he called the [ruling party founder Bidzina] Ivanishvili regime’s efforts to abolish the Georgian state and legalise Russification.

He added that the area outside the court should also be used for protests, urging party members, supporters and other citizens to assemble during the proceedings.