US Embassy praises independence of Georgia’s judiciary
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The judicial system of Georgia has the opportunity to be independent which is an integral part of any healthy democratic system, says the United States Embassy in Georgia.
Last night the US Embassy released a statement regarding former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava’s release from prison.
"We are closely watching the progress of former Mayor Gigi Ugulava’s case”, the statement read.
"The right to appeal a decision is an important part of any democratic judicial system. The Court of Appeals assessed the evidence and enabled the parties to present their legal arguments.”
The Embassy declined to asses the court’s judgement regarding Ugulava’s release, but did say this step shows the judiciary enjoys independence in the country.
"As for the relevance of the court judgement, commenting on that issue would be inappropriate from our side.”
Ugulava was released from prison yesterday around 6:30 PM after Tbilisi Court of Appeals reduced his sentence, effectively ending his prison term.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office promised to appeal the decision.
Former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava was released from prison today around 6:30 PM after Tbilisi Court of Appeals reduced his sentence, effectively ending his prison term.
Gigi Ugulava, the former Mayor of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi has been found guilty of misspending millions of public funds and been sentenced to four years and six months in jail.
The former Mayor of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava, has been released after spending 14 months in pre-trial detention.
The European Union is closely following the arrest of a United National Movement (UNM) opposition party leader and former Mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili vetoed a package of bills today known as the "third wave of judicial reforms”, which were presented to him after the Georgian Parliament approved the bill on December 29, 2016.
The Government Administration of Georgia issued a statement in response to yesterday’s request by European People’s Party President Joseph Daul, who called on Kvirikashvili to release „political prisoners".
The US Embassy to Georgia and the European Union delegation to the country say that they welcome the final bill on the “fourth wave” of judicial reform in Georgia, which has been made as a result of a broad consensus in a working group composed of different players, including the international community, civil society and the judicial sector.
The US has commended the ‘recent progress’ made in the fourth wave of judicial reforms in Georgia and supported the ongoing dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition on electoral reform, the US Department of State says.