Georgian opposition vows to take party ban case to Strasbourg

Levan Bezhashvili, a leader of Georgia’s United National Movement (UNM), has vowed to take a legal case seeking to ban five opposition parties to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, saying he believes it will end in victory for the Georgian people.

Bezhashvili accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of using the Constitutional Court proceedings to demonstrate its power to supporters and show how it intends to eliminate opposition parties.

“We have our own objective - this case must go to the Strasbourg court, and it will ultimately end in a victory for the Georgian people,” Bezhashvili said.

He added that the opposition would present its arguments during the week and seek to demonstrate the “absurdity” of the lawsuit.

Hearings have resumed at Georgia’s Constitutional Court on a lawsuit seeking to declare five political parties unconstitutional.