Two New Constitutional Court Judges Appointed as Critics Warn of End to Dissenting Opinions

President Mikheil Kavelashvili appointed Goga Kikilashvili, 37 — son of former Constitutional Court judge Khvicha Kikilashvili and a non-judge member of the High Council of Justice since October 2023 — and the Supreme Court's Plenum appointed Sergo Metopishvili, 65, a Tbilisi appeals court judge since 2025 seen as part of Georgia's "judicial clan" who opposed judicial vetting reforms, to fill two Constitutional Court vacancies. Opposition leader Nika Gvaramia said "the occupation of the Constitutional Court is complete," alleging the appointments secure loyalist votes ahead of a pending lawsuit seeking to ban major opposition parties. Former Georgian Young Lawyers' Association head Nona Kurdovanidze warned "dissenting opinions will soon no longer be written" now that judges known for dissents, like Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze, are departing.