Chief Prosecutor Resigns

The Chief Prosecutor of Georgia Otar Partskhaladze, who faced lingering allegations over his criminal record in Germany, resigned after 40 days in office. This marks the second resignation from the same post in the last two months in Georgia.

Partskhaladze said that he found himself obliged to respect the society who has questions about the Chief Prosecutors biography.

"Today, there is a process of restoring fairness going on in our country. Even though there is no judicial problem for me to stay on my post, I do not want for the cases that the Prosecutors office investigates right now to be doubted. Besides, by staying on my post, I do not want to damage the reputation of the Prime Minister and the political team for whom the main goal is to restore fairness, as stated in the written statement by Otar Partskhaladze.

Partskhaladze thanked the Georgian Government for its collaboration and also expressed his readiness to keep serving his country in any possible position.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili appointed Partskhaladze upon nomination by Justice Minister on November 8, 2013. The Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani, before the appointment of Partskhaladze, said that she did not personally know Partskhaladze, but added that she trusted Garibashvilis choice.

Later, on November 18, Tsulukiani said that she had a lengthy and detailed discussion with Partskhaladze and added that they are of the same opinion concerning the reforms.

Tsulukiani has not yet commented on the allegations against Partskhaladze.

Gigi Ugulava, who was suspended from the Tbilisi mayoral post, accused Partskhaladze of serving one year and three months of a prison term in Germany after he was found guilty of robbery and theft in 2001.

Partskhaladze responded to the accusations, saying that he only had an incident with a policeman in Germany in 2000.

Ex-Chief Prosecutor has also been accused of having a fake law diploma, making him ineligible to hold the post.

He also published a copy of his university diploma in order to clear up the misunderstandings about his education.

The diploma reads that Partskhaladze enrolled in the Open Humanitarian University of Georgia in 1991 and graduated from it in 1995. Partskhaladze was born in 1976. Since, according to his resume, Partskhaladze was only 19 when he graduated from the university; his opponents found it doubtful and asked him to present his diploma.

The previous Chief Prosecutor of Georgia Arhil Kbilashvili resigned on November 7, citing differences over the pace of reforms with incoming and outgoing prime ministers as the reason for his decision.