Justice Minister: “Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor should be elected not appointed”

Georgia’s judicial system is about to undergo a significant change – soon the country’s Chief Prosecutor will not be appointed but elected.

Georgia’s Minister of Justice announced the institutional reform within the Chief Prosecutor Office at today’s united sitting of Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Defence and Procedural Committees. She said for the first time in the "very near future” Georgia’s Parliament will have the possibility to elect the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia.

"We have launched a new institutional reform of the Prosecutor's Office and very soon we will offer a government-approved model, which includes establishment of a Prosecutorial Council.

"The Council will be attended by the Prosecutor's Office itself. But main important changes will be a new model of appointment of Chief Prosecutor, who will be elected by Parliament,” Tsulukiani said.

Under the current rules, the Chief Prosecutor is appointed or dismissed by the Prime Minister with a recommendation of the Justice Minister.

The new model will see the Prosecutorial Council arrange the appointment process of the Chief Prosecutor. The Council will consider the candidates nominated by the Minister of Justice for the role of Chief Prosecutor.

Tsulukiani highlighted that any nominee who gained the support of the Council would be presented to the Government for approval. After the Government approved the candidacy of nominees, Parliament of Georgia will hold a hearing regarding the presented candidates and a final decision will be made by a majority vote.

The Justice Minister hoped this change would be implemented this year however noted no official date had been provided at this stage.