**Georgian Dream Accused of Obstructing Freedom Square Party Registration**
The Freedom Square political party has made a serious accusation against the ruling Georgian Dream party. According to the Freedom Square, the Public Registry has rejected its application for registration for the second time, and it believes that this decision is motivated by politics.
In a statement on Facebook, the Freedom Square emphasized that its members are new to politics and not affiliated with any of Georgia’s previous ruling parties. The party also appealed to its supporters for financial help to build a responsible and democratic party.
The leader of the Freedom Square, Levan Tsutskiridze, wrote on Facebook, “We will not be stopped by Georgian Dream’s decisions and bureaucratic tricks.” He added that the party plans to hold a new congress and expand its outreach efforts. This shows that the Freedom Square is determined to continue its political activity despite the obstacles.
**The Context of the Conflict**
It’s worth noting that the Freedom Square movement was initially established in 2024, ahead of the October 26 elections. The movement participated as part of the opposition Strong Georgia coalition and later decided to become an independent political force.
The Georgian Dream party has been pushing forward a legislative package that allows the Constitutional Court to ban opposition groups whose leadership or activities are similar to those of previously banned parties. This law also aims to prohibit “successor parties” with identical goals and objectives.
**International Reactions**
It’s not just the Freedom Square party that is concerned about these developments. The European Commission has urged the Georgian Dream government to end violence and engage in dialogue with political actors. Transparency International-Georgia (TI-Georgia) has also spoken out, stating that the Georgian Dream government is using the judiciary and law enforcement bodies to target journalists.
**What’s at Stake?**
The Freedom Square party’s registration is a crucial test of democratic principles in Georgia. If the party is not allowed to register, it will be seen as another example of the Georgian Dream government’s attempts to silence opposition voices. The international community will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds.
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