Ruling party on replacement of Inspector’s Service: investigative, personal data protection functions not compatible
“Two independent institutions are being formed which may require the employment of additional staff rather than reduction and professionals will naturally retain their status there,” said Mdinaradze. Photo: the GD press office.
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Ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MP Mamuka Mdinaradze has stated that the GD has proposed splitting the State Inspector’s Service into two agencies because the investigative and personal data protection functions are ‘not compatible with each other.’
Several Georgian majoritarian MPs put forward a bill on December 25 based on which the State Inspector’s Service would be replaced by two new agencies: the Special Investigation Service and the Personal Data Protection Service, which would be authorised to investigate offences committed by the authorities and to monitor personal data processing respectively.
Mdinaradze noted that the replacement of the Inspector's Service with two new agencies will strengthen the functions of the body.
He also pledged that employees of the state service will continue to work, noting that ‘they are professionals who have accumulated serious experience over the years, both in the field of investigation and personal data protection.’
Two independent institutions are being formed which may require the employment of additional staff rather than reduction and professionals will naturally retain their status there,” said Mdinaradze.
GD Head Irakli Kobakhidze also stated that there was ‘practically a universal recommendation’ to separate the functions of the State Inspector’s Service, adding that per the bill additional functions are added to the body.
The GD maintains that both the investigative and personal data protection agencies will be strengthened as a result of the changes.
GD MP Guram Macharashvili noted that both new agencies will retain independence and transparency.
Ruling party MP Mikheil Sarjveladze denied the accusations that the State Inspector’s Service abolishes, noting that ‘all the functions that the Inspector’s Service has will continue to be maintained by the current legislation.’
NGOs, the parliamentary opposition and State Inspector Londa Toloraia have criticised the bill stating that the government aims to influence the independent institution.
The United Nations Human Rights office has called on the GD to withdraw a bill proposing to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies.
The Georgian parliament adopted the law on the State Inspector’s Service on July 21, 2018, and the Service began operations on November 1, 2019. Per the bill, the State Inspector’s Service is assigned to conduct the investigations with the supervision of the Georgian Prosecutor's office.
The United Nations Human Rights office has called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw a bill proposing to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies.
Georgian majoritarian MPs have put forward a new bill which proposes replacing the State Inspector's Service with Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services.
Georgia’s State Inspector’s Office, which studies alleged offences committed by law enforcement agencies and officers, has fined the country’s Justice Ministry and the Special Penitentiary Service 2,000 GEL for the release of videos of former president Mikheil Saakashvili in prison.
A total of 17 NGOs have called on the Georgian government to ‘stop attacks on independent institutions’ following Georgian majoritarian MPs’ proposal to replace the State Inspector's Service, which investigates alleged offences committed by state officials and law enforcement agencies, with the Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that a recent ruling Georgian Dream party backed initiative to divide the State Inspector’s Service into two new agencies will strengthen the bodies and provide them with more independence, transparency and rights.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has stated that ‘there is no need to rush’ with adopting a bill proposing to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies, calling on the Georgian parliament to slow down the process.
Acting Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Asuncion Sanchez Ruiz has said that 'abolishing' the State Inspector's Service 'bears high risks' for the country's democracy.
Foreign dignitaries have expressed their concern over a bill proposed by ruling Georgian Dream party MPs to replace the State Inspector's Service with a Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Service.
European Parliament member Viola von Cramon has called the possible adoption of a bill proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party replacing the State Inspector’s Service with two new agencies 'disturbing'. MEP Cramon stated that the Georgian government is ‘trying to abolish’ the Inspector’s Service, calling it ‘one of the most professional and well-functioning state institutions.’
The Georgian parliament has approved a bill to replace the State Inspector's Service with a Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Service in March 2022.
Eighty-one MPs supported the amendments proposed by ruling Georgian Dream party MPs in its third and final reading in the 150-member legislative body.
The United States Embassy to Georgia has denounced hasty legislative amendments proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, stating that the replacement of the State Inspector’s Service with two new agencies ‘undermined government accountability.’
Ruling Georgian Dream party Head Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that the US Embassy’s statement, which criticises GD for the abolition of the State Inspector’s Service, ‘shakes the confidence of the Georgian public in western partners.'
Several NGOs have released a statement earlier today calling on Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to veto a law adopted by the parliament on December 30 which replaces the State Inspector’s Service with two new agencies.
The United Nations Country Team in Georgia has expressed its concern over the government's abolition of the State Inspector’s Service, following the signing of the controversial bill by president Salome Zurabishvili on Thursday.
The legal team of the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili has appealed to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia to identify him as a victim following a Tbilisi City Court decision to overturn a State Inspector Service ruling against the Special Penitentiary Service for disclosing the politician’s personal data.
The Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia has expressed support for Emzar Gagnidze and Karlo Katsitadze, two candidates presented for the position of the Head of the Special Investigation Service by the prime minister, paving the way for the legislative body’s voting on their nomination.
The suspension of MP status for three opposition members arguably reduces pluralism and inclusiveness in the Georgian parliament, European Union Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell said on Wednesday in response to the decision passed by the legislative body.