**Appeals Court to Consider Election Lawsuits without Parties**
The Tbilisi Appeals Court will examine lawsuits from “Unity – National Movement”, “Strong Georgia“, and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) regarding the annulment of parliamentary election results. These parties have demanded that the court invalidate the October 26 elections, which took place without their participation.
According to GYLA’s chairman Nona Kurdovanidze, the appeals court’s decision serves a specific purpose: to avoid any inconvenience and make a quick ruling without listening to the parties involved. Additionally, she notes that the court can hold a session without an oral hearing, but this should be decided based on the importance of the case.
**Parties Not Given Opportunity to Present Arguments**
Kurdovanidze expressed disappointment at the court’s decision, stating that the parties were not given the chance to present their arguments and evidence. The lawsuit concerns the electoral rights of 90% of voters, making it a highly publicized and significant case. GYLA had expected an oral hearing and recorded session, but was informed that the parties would not be involved.
**Concerns about Justice**
Kurdovanidze stated that excluding the parties from the court proceedings is not in the best interest of justice, especially given the high public interest in this case. She believes that the parties should have been allowed to voice their arguments and examine evidence before the court made its decision.
The Tbilisi City Court had previously rejected the lawsuits from “Unity – National Movement”, “Strong Georgia”, and GYLA, combining them into a single case and announcing its decision after 13 hours of deliberation. The parties involved claim that there is substantial evidence of voting irregularities during the October 26 parliamentary elections.
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