Georgian opposition urges Constitutional Court to deliver ‘fair verdict’ on controversial law

Members of Georgia’s opposition on Thursday called on the Constitutional Court to deliver a “fair verdict” on the controversial Foreign Influence Transparency Law, which was initiated and adopted by the ruling party in May.

Critics, including Western officials, have warned the law could jeopardize Georgia’s European integration.

Tamar Kordzaia, a member of the Unity opposition coalition, expressed concern, claiming the court’s ruling could determine Georgia’s future trajectory. “No issue as significant as the one before the Constitutional Court today has ever been discussed in its history. If the court does not suspend the enforcement of this law, we risk being categorized as a non-democratic country,” Kordzaia warned.

The law, aimed at regulating foreign funding of non-governmental organizations, has faced fierce criticism from opposition leaders, who argue it threatens Georgia’s democratic foundations.

Kordzaia emphasized the law contradicted EU legislation, urging the judges to act in the “nation’s best interest.”

“We have irrefutable evidence that this law contradicts EU legislation,” she stressed.

Davit Berdzenishvili, a member of the Republican Party, also echoed the concerns, underlining the importance of judicial independence.
He commended three Constitutional Court judges who he said had previously resisted political pressure, calling their stance “commendable.”

Berdzenishvili urged Georgia’s democratic community to stand united against what he described as a “Russian-style” law. “It is crucial that all democratic forces in Georgia, including the President and the opposition, employ every legal and political measure to combat this usurping government within constitutional boundaries,” he said.

Maia Kopaleishvili of the Coalition for Changes also called on the court to act decisively. “We all recall the negative experience from the previous consideration of the President’s impeachment by the Constitutional Court [earlier this year],” Kopaleishvili noted, expressing hope that judges would “recognize the gravity of the situation and declare the law unconstitutional”.