Merab Turava becomes new Constitutional Court Chair
Georgian parliament elected Merab Turava as the member of Constitutional Court in 2015. Photo: constcourt.ge
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The Constitutional Court of Georgia has a new chair, with Merab Turava replacing Zaza Tavadze whose term expired in June.
Turava, 56, was the deputy chair of the Constitutional Court from January 2018.
His candidacy was supported by five of nine members of the Constitutional Court Plenum. His only opponent, Georgia’s ex-Secretary of the Security Council Irine Imerlishvili, received the other four votes.
I will promote Georgia’s constitutional court both in the country as well as on the international level”, Turava told journalist today upon his election as chair, promising to be ‘open with media’.
Born on September 23, 1964, in the town of Zugdidi in Georgia’s western region of Samegrelo, Merab Turava has degree in law.
Georgian parliament elected Merab Turava as the member of Constitutional Court in 2015.
Earlier in 2000-2005 he was the president of the Chamber of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court of Georgia and its Vise President.
The Georgian High Council of Justice has nominated Nino Kadagidze as a candidate for the head of Georgian Supreme Court, while the opposition expected former Chief Prosecutor Shalva Tadumadze in the role.
Head of the Georgian Constitutional Court Zaza Tavadze, who is on the 20-person list presented to parliament for a lifetime appointment as a judge on the Georgian Supreme Court, has withdrawn his candidacy, citing controversies related to his higher education.
The High Council of Justice of Georgia, a body which is responsible for the selection and appointment of judges in the country, has presented a final, 20 person list, for judges to the Supreme Court, including Chief Prosecutor Shalva Tadumadze and his deputy Mamuka Vasadze.
Zaza Tavadze, a judge of the Constitutional Court was today elected as the new chairperson of the Constitutional Court of Georgia. He gained five of eight votes to be elected to the post.
Merab Turava, the Chair of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, on Monday said reflection of all judicial recommendations issued by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe towards the country’s authorities required “time and consensus” among domestic political actors.