Georgia's top court hears lawsuit to ban main opposition parties in latest crackdown on dissent

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court of Georgia began hearings in Batumi regarding a lawsuit filed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The legal action seeks to ban five major opposition parties in the South Caucasus nation.

Critics of the lawsuit argue that prohibiting these political groups would effectively eliminate political competition within the country. The proceedings mark the latest development in what has been described as a continuing crackdown on political dissent in Georgia.