Georgia’s Constitutional Court approves impeachment process against president: Report

ISTANBUL

Georgia’s Constitutional Court granted the request to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Salome Zourabichvili on Monday over recent foreign visits conducted without government approval, said a report.

“The Constitutional Court has concluded that President Salome Zourabichvili violated the Constitution by exercising representative authority in foreign relations during her working visits abroad on August 31, September 1 and September 6, 2023, without the consent of the Georgian Government,” Merab Turava, the head of the country’s Constitutional Court, said following the ruling, according to Georgian television channel 1TV.

Turava added that the ruling is final and not subject to appeal or revision, and it will be in effect from the moment of its publication by the Georgian Constitutional Court.

The decision, supported by six of the nine court members, will be forwarded to the Georgian parliament, the president, the government, and the Supreme Court.

Last month, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, announced the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Zourabichvili, citing her visits to Berlin, Brussels, and Paris.

The Georgian government had previously denied Zourabichvili's planned trips to various countries from August to December. Zourabichvili stated that her trip aimed to strengthen the country's position as an EU candidate country.