Georgian parliament approves first state inspector to study alleged crimes of law enforcers
Londa Toloraia, 35, has become the first State Inspector of Georgia after a vote in parliament earlier today. Photo: Interior Ministry press office.
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian parliament has approved Londa Toloraia, the former head of Human Rights Department of the Interior Ministry, as the country’s first state inspector to investigate possible crimes committed by law enforcers.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze presented two candidates in parliament earlier this week for voting, who were selected by a special commission from 48 applicants.
Toloraia received 82 votes, while her opponent Velari Lomuashvili received only seven during the final vote in parliament.
She will officially take up to the post on July 3, 2019 for a term of six years.
The State Inspector’s Office is an independent investigative mechanism created on the basis of the Personal Data Protection Inspector’s Office of Georgia.
The creation of such a department has been long demanded by NGOs as they say that crimes committed by law enforcers remained uninvestigated and unpunished.
The parliamentary opposition did not vote for Toloraia, saying that the former police official will not be free in investigating cases which might involve her former colleagues.
Toloraia says that her previous role will not be an obstacle while fulfilling her duties.
During her speech in parliament earlier this year, Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani mentioned the importance of the office which will respond to “many issues.”
Read more about the State Inspector’s Office here.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria says that less people addressed her office for help in 2018 regarding possible abuse by law enforcers.
Georgian Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani stated in parliament today that starting from 2013 the Georgian Dream leadership has gathered and presented more than 700 pieces of evidence proving that Russia started the war in Georgia in 2008.
The government of Georgia has allowed for the creation of the State Inspector’s Service that will study alleged offences committed by law enforcers, a decision that has long been requested by the civil sector and the opposition.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has announced it has launched a human rights department in a new move aimed at improving the qualification of law enforcement professionals in dealing with various new challenges in crime.
A new, independent agency, the State Inspector’s Office, which replaced the Personal Data Protection Inspector’s Office back in July 2019, will begin its function to investigate possible crimes committed by law enforcers and state officials starting November 1.An event was held earlier today to mark the upcoming launch of the work of the agency and was attended by top Georgian officials.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has dismissed allegations by the family of a 15-year-old of allegedly applying psychological pressure at Tbilisi Didube-Chugureti police station last week, which may have led to a suicide attempt by the minor.
A 15-year-old minor who may have been led to a suicide attempt by psychological pressure at Tbilisi Didube-Chugureti police station last week, is in critical condition after surgery and doctors have him on assisted respiration, announced Edisher Magalashvili, a neurosurgeon at M. Iashvili Childrens Central Hospital.
A 15-year-old minor who may have been led to a suicide attempt by psychological pressure at Tbilisi Didube-Chugureti police station over a week ago, has died at M. Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital today.
A female investigator Mariana Choloiani has been detained for placing psychological pressure leading to a suicide attempt of Luka Siradze, 15, who died at M. Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital earlier today.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has responded to the death of 15-year-old Luka Siradze, who jumped from the ninth floor of a building after being subjected to alleged psychological pressure at Didube police station in Tbilisi, saying that “we must make major changes to avoid such tragedies.”“The death of a 15-year-old boy is a big tragedy for the state. I share the hard moments with the family and wish them to stand strong in this very difficult time,” Zurabishvili wrote.