Georgia re-announces competition for European Court of Human Rights Judge

The Government of Georgia is re-announcing the competition for the Georgian judge in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), as the court expert-advisers stated two out of the three candidates sent from  Georgia lacked length of professional activities for occupying the post.

The Government of Georgia selected three candidates for the court in May this year, from the five candidates nominated by a special commission.

The three candidates were:

• Lado Chanturia - Georgia’s ambassador to Germany since 2014, Chairman of the Supreme Court in 1999-2004 and Justice Minister in 1998-1999.
• Sophio Japaridze – Georgian Prime Minister’s advisor on human rights and gender equality since 2014.
• Shota Getsadze – Judge of Tbilisi Court of Appeals and member of the High Council of Georgia.

In terms of Getsadze the court stated that "he is very young and does not have enough experience of working as a judge to be considered in the role.”

When it comes to Japaridze the court’s experts wrote that she enjoys "worthy professional experience but scales and length of the experience aren’t sufficient.”

Only Chanturia was described as a nominee who could be suitable for the position.

The Minister of Justice explains that the number of candidates sent to Georgia must be three, out of which only one must be selected. 

A new competition is announced to select two nominees instead of  Getsadze and Japaridze.

A deadline for submitting applications is until August 25.

The ECtHR post for Georgian judge became vacant last year when the nine-year term of Georgia’s representative Nona Tsotsoria expired.