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Court to Judge on Merits of Constitutional Complaint filed by ISFED and GYLA

On January 21, 2015, the Constitutional Court will judge on merits of constitutional complaint filed by the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) and Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. Due to its special importance, the case will be examined by the plenum. 

The complainants are seeking that norms that allow nomination of candidates for Mayoral and Gamgebeli races by parties/election blocs only be deemed unconstitutional. Independent candidates are stripped off their passive electoral right, in violation of Articles 28 and 29 of the Constitution. 

Furthermore, by putting independent candidates at a disadvantage, the impugned norms violated the right to equality (Article 14 of the Constitution). 

The non-governmental organizations believe that the existing rule forces citizens to be associated with a political force, which conflicts with the right of a citizen of Georgia to refuse to engage in party activities, guaranteed by para.2, Article 26 of the Constitution.