High Council of Justice condemns UNM MP for insulting judge via SMS

The High Council of Justice of Georgia has strongly condemned the actions of an opposition Member of Parliament (MP) in which he sent an "abusive” text message to a Tbilisi City Court Judge.

The High Council of Justice "sharply negatively” assessed the actions of United National Movement (UNM) MP Akaki Minashvili, who insulted Judge Besik Bugianishvili in a text message. The message was sent to Judge Bugianishvili, who presided over the trial of ex- government high official Bachana (Bacho) Akhalaia, after Akhalaia was found guilty on October 22.

A statement released today by the High Council of Justice stated this action was a politician’s attempt to put pressure on the court as well as disrespect and defilation of the court’s independence, authority and prestige.

The High Council of Justice believed this kind of "blackmail” would deter Judge Bugianishvili from being independent in the future and could lead other judges to be biased when delivering verdicts in the same case at the Court of Appeal.

The statement noted this kind of action, "a personal insult of the judge”, was unacceptable, particularly from a MP.

Moreover, the High Council of Justice believed this was an insult not only towards Judge Bugianishvili but towards every judge.

"The High Council of Justice of Georgia will do its best to create an independent, faithful and trustable court in Georgia and it will never tolerate this kind of escapade against judges,” read the statement.

Minashvili publically released the content of the text message he sent to Judge Bugianishvili last week. It read: "Show this to anyone you want – I am saying simply and publicly: You are everyone’s slave!”

Tbilisi City Court sentenced Akhalaia, Georgia’s former Interior Minister, to seven years and six months in prison on October 22 after being found guilty of torturing prisoners in the 2006 Navtlugi Special Operation case.

The ex-official, who also served as the country's Defence Minister and head of the Penitentiary Department of the Justice Ministry, was also found guilty of abusing authority when "he gave privileged prison conditions” to ex-officials arrested for the Girgvliani murder case.

On October 22 the Court also delivered a not guilty verdict for Akhalaia in response to his charge of exceeding official authority.