Opposition leader Japaridze calls Constitutional Court hearings on party ban a ‘performance’

Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of Georgia’s Coalition for Change, has described Constitutional Court proceedings seeking to ban five opposition groups as a “performance”, arguing that the outcome is already known and that participants are playing different roles.

In a post on social media on Thursday, Japaridze urged the public to abandon illusions and what he called unfounded optimism when following the hearings.

“Everyone knows everything in advance. No one expects anything extraordinary,” he wrote, adding that everyone knows the proceedings are being watched by Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Japaridze said some participants were seeking to demonstrate their loyalty to Ivanishvili for the first time, while others were trying to preserve their positions. He also accused some of remaining silent and fulfilling only their minimum obligations before signing the final decision, while others were particularly keen to prove they were not associated with the United National Movement.

“This is a performance,” Japaridze wrote, suggesting that a prize could be awarded for the best performer.

The Constitutional Court is holding hearings on a lawsuit seeking to declare five opposition political groups unconstitutional and ban them.