5 opposition parties sign justice reform deal, agree to shut down State Security Service if they win elections

Five Georgian opposition parties have signed an agreement on a justice reform earlier today which includes the shutting down of the State Security Service, the Interior Ministry decentralisation and cutting the rights of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office. 

The signatories – European Georgia, the United National Movement, Strategy Agmashenebeli, United Georgia and Girchi – vow to implement ‘key changes in the justice field’ after they win the October 31 parliamentary elections.

The parties claim that the State Security Service, which was separated from the country’s Interior Ministry back in 2015, is a ‘politicized agency’ and must be closed.

Instead the parties offer the creation of a special, anti-corruption bureau.

The agreement introduces the creation of sheriffs’ institutes in self-governments which will be responsible for all crimes only inside the municipalities.

The agreement says that the Prosecutor’s Office must be deprived of the right to supervise the investigation process.