EU warns Georgia over opposition party bans as court hearing looms

The European Union has warned that Georgia's bid to ban five major opposition parties threatens political freedoms and fair competition, as the Constitutional Court prepares to hear the case from 21 to 23 October.

The warning comes amid mounting pressure from Brussels, with the European Parliament calling for sanctions against four senior figures in the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The case was brought by 88 Georgian Dream MPs against Unity – National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia, the Federalist Party and Gakharia for Georgia. The court's ruling could determine whether the five parties can continue to operate legally.

European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said the EU was closely monitoring the case, recent legislative changes and previous statements by Georgian authorities about plans to ban opposition parties.

“These developments … point to a concerning instrumentalisation of the judicial system,” Wigand said, warning that the process threatens fundamental freedoms, political pluralism and fair competition.

EU calls for sanctions over proposed bans

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 8 October condemning the proposed bans and calling for the constitutional claim to be withdrawn.

Lawmakers also demanded targeted sanctions and visa bans against those responsible for democratic backsliding and political persecution, specifically naming Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.

The resolution passed by 445 votes to 37, with 97 abstentions. It warned that banning established opposition parties would push Georgia further away from the EU and undermine its prospects of membership.

The European Commission has also criticised restrictions on journalists and activists.

Responding to the 30-day administrative detention of journalist Vakho Sanaia, Wigand called for the release of those he described as unjustly detained, alongside the repeal of repressive legislation.

Why does Georgian Dream want the parties banned?

Georgian Dream argues that the five opposition parties pose a threat to the country's constitutional order and national interests.

The lawsuit invokes constitutional provisions prohibiting parties from seeking to overthrow the constitutional order, undermine Georgia's independence or violate its territorial integrity.

The ruling party points to the opposition's refusal to recognise the results of the 2024 parliamentary election, its calls for Western sanctions against Georgian authorities and what it describes as acts of sabotage against the state.

However, the five parties have not taken a unified stance towards parliament.

Gakharia for Georgia took up its parliamentary seats following the 2024 election and continues to participate in the legislature. By contrast, Unity – National Movement, Coalition for Change and Strong Georgia rejected the results and boycotted parliament.

That difference raises questions about Georgian Dream's claim that all five parties reject the legitimacy of parliament.

The ruling party nevertheless insists that their wider activities threaten the country's constitutional order and national interests.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has argued that the key issue is whether the parties recognise Georgia's constitutional order and the legitimacy of its institutions.

Papuashvili, meanwhile, has cited party bans in Ukraine and Moldova to defend the proposed measures, arguing that democracies must be able to protect themselves.

The government's legal case also draws on findings from a parliamentary investigative commission examining alleged wrongdoing under previous administrations.

Nearly 785,000 votes at stake

The proposed bans could remove some of Georgia's largest opposition forces from political competition.

Four of the targeted parties crossed the five per cent electoral threshold in the disputed 2024 parliamentary election.

According to official Central Election Commission figures, 784,820 voters, representing 37.79 per cent of those who cast ballots, backed those four political forces.

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Several opposition parties rejected the results and have continued to challenge the legitimacy of the parliament formed after the election.

Georgian Dream maintains that the opposition has lost public trust, citing its rejection of the election results and the initial parliamentary boycott.

Opposition figures, however, argue that the lawsuit risks excluding major political forces from elections, denying voters the chance to decide their future at the ballot box.

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Georgia European Union Georgian Dream Sanctions Irakli Kobakhidze