NGOs claim ruling party does not want independence of judiciary following appointment of judges

NGOs have claimed that the ruling Georgian Dream party does not want the independence of the judiciary, following the appointment of six judges to the Supreme Court by the Georgian parliament yesterday, despite the calls from opposition, NGOs and the international community to place a moratorium on the process, in line with the EU-mediated agreement, which ended the political standoff caused by the parliamentary elections of October 2020. 

• Georgian parliament appoints six judges to Supreme Court despite calls for postponement

The NGOs claim that with the appointment, the ruling party has reaffirmed that voting for individuals affiliated with the clan is in their interest.

• GYLA: clan rule of Georgia’s High Council of Justice remains a major challenge

The Georgian parliament appointed six judges to the country’s Supreme Court after the interview process of nine candidates selected by the High Council of Justice ended on July 10. 

Three out of nine candidates did not get the support of the majority and therefore were not appointed to the position. 

• US Ambassador Degnan: appointment of judges to Supreme Court must be stopped until adoption of reforms

Most of the opposition did not participate in yesterday’s voting process, only six out of 66 opposition MPs cast their votes.