PACE welcomes stronger Georgian parliament, justice reform, concerned by election issues
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The recently adopted resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which covers the period between January and December of 2019, has welcomed amendments which ‘reinforce parliamentary oversight in Georgia and political accountability of the executive.’
PACE also welcomed “a broad agreement with all stakeholders’ about the adopted fourth wave of judicial reforms ‘with the aim of further strengthening the independence of the judiciary and efficiency of the administration of justice.’
PACE said that it was concerned by the rejection of the Georgian Dream ruling party proposed election bill in November 2019, which should have ensured the country’s early transition to a fully-proportional electoral system starting from 2020 instead of scheduled 2024.
PACE also expressed concern regarding the ‘the lack of investigation and follow up given to alleged incidents and violations of the electoral code during the 2018 presidential election and the shortcomings in the functioning of the High Council of Justice [an independent body in Georgia responsible for the selection and appointment of judges].’
PACE called upon the Georgian ruling majority:
- To ensure the introduction of an election system that can have the support and trust of all stakeholders in time before the 2020 elections.
- To fully implement all the recommendations of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on the selection and appointment of Supreme Court judges.
- To promptly implement the fourth wave of reform of the judiciary, and for all political forces in the country to work to overcome the ‘continuing polarisation in the political environment.
The resolution condemned the continuing borderisation and creeping annexation of the Georgian regions of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia by Russia and the illegal annexation of Crimea and military aggression in Eastern Ukraine.
See the full resolution here.
Russia has had its voting right confirmed in PACE despite Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia challenging it earlier this week, once again protesting Russia’s regaining the right seven months ago which it lost for annexation of Crimea back in 2014.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Marija Pejcinovic Buric said at a news briefing with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Strasbourg earlier today that Georgia’s presidency of the CoE Committee of Ministers “is progressing well”. "I welcome all the works done by Georgia to promote and strengthen our values and standards and to raise awareness of the Council of Europe in the country but also in the South Caucasus area as a whole”, she stated.
Georgia joined Lithuanian and Latvian delegates at PACE yesterday who have challenged Russia’s regaining of its voting right last year which it lost for the annexation of Crimea back in 2014.
The CoE Committee of Ministers has urged Russia for the second time to pay €10 million compensation to Georgia for illegal deportation of Georgians from Russia back in 2006, and with the step abide by the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered against Russia on January 31, 2019. Russia had the obligation to pay the compensation before the end of April 2019, but refused to do so.
Georgia as the Council of Europe (CoE) chair country has called for the renewal of the organization’s laws on human rights and environmental protection to make sanctions and obligations clearer and stronger against environmental and organised crimes.
Coercion and intimidation of voters or the violation of vote secrecy will become criminally liable in Georgia as part of a series of amendments to the election code approved by the Parliament of Georgia in its third and final hearing today.
PACE co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Georgia Titus Corlatean and Claude Kern have urged the Georgian authorities to request a Venice Commission opinion on the proposed amendments to the law on the Common Courts for appointing Supreme Court judges.
Peter Stano, a lead spokesperson for the external affairs of the EU, says that it is regrettable the Georgian parliament did not wait for the recommendations of the Venice Commission on the selection of the Supreme Court judges and adopted related amendments earlier this year, on September 30.