The ruling party "Georgian Dream" has initiated a package of amendments, according to which the Constitutional Court of Georgia receives the right to ban new parties, "whose stated goals, nature of activity and personnel are identical to already banned parties," UNN reports with reference to "News Georgia".
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Another amendment defines the terms for making a decision on a constitutional complaint against the activities of parties: 9 months from the date of filing the claim, and in the pre-election period – 14 days.
Tornike Artkmeladze, a representative of the Strong Georgia coalition (Lelo), called the amendments "complete madness".
The wording is so vague that they will be able to ban any opposition party in the near future... Today, 34 years after the referendum on independence, we are returning to a one-party system of government
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Earlier, "Georgian Dream" promised a "Nuremberg trial" to the main opposition parties, which it considers to be part of the "collective national movement". Recently, it was announced that the ruling party is preparing a lawsuit to the Constitutional Court against the former ruling party — the United National Movement.
At the same time, a commission of inquiry has begun its work in the Parliament of Georgia, which is studying the activities of the UNM and is going to transfer the materials to the Prosecutor's Office.
On March 27, the executive secretary of the Dream party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, stated that the final conclusion of the parliamentary commission of inquiry of the "Dream" will give the "Georgian Dream" party a "solid basis" to appeal to the Constitutional Court and demand that both the UNM and other opposition parties close to the movement be declared unconstitutional.
In addition, "Georgian Dream" initiated the return of Article 307 — on treason — to the Criminal Code.
According to the current legislation, the Constitutional Court may ban a party that aims to overthrow or forcibly change the constitutional order, encroach on the country's independence, violate its territorial integrity, promote war or violence, incite national, ethnic, religious hatred.