Ruling party on replacement of Inspector’s Service: investigative, personal data protection functions not compatible
“Two independent institutions are being formed which may require the employment of additional staff rather than reduction and professionals will naturally retain their status there,” said Mdinaradze. Photo: the GD press office.
Tweet 
Share
Ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MP Mamuka Mdinaradze has stated that the GD has proposed splitting the State Inspector’s Service into two agencies because the investigative and personal data protection functions are ‘not compatible with each other.’
Several Georgian majoritarian MPs put forward a bill on December 25 based on which the State Inspector’s Service would be replaced by two new agencies: the Special Investigation Service and the Personal Data Protection Service, which would be authorised to investigate offences committed by the authorities and to monitor personal data processing respectively.
Mdinaradze noted that the replacement of the Inspector's Service with two new agencies will strengthen the functions of the body.
He also pledged that employees of the state service will continue to work, noting that ‘they are professionals who have accumulated serious experience over the years, both in the field of investigation and personal data protection.’
Two independent institutions are being formed which may require the employment of additional staff rather than reduction and professionals will naturally retain their status there,” said Mdinaradze.
GD Head Irakli Kobakhidze also stated that there was ‘practically a universal recommendation’ to separate the functions of the State Inspector’s Service, adding that per the bill additional functions are added to the body.
The GD maintains that both the investigative and personal data protection agencies will be strengthened as a result of the changes.
GD MP Guram Macharashvili noted that both new agencies will retain independence and transparency.
Ruling party MP Mikheil Sarjveladze denied the accusations that the State Inspector’s Service abolishes, noting that ‘all the functions that the Inspector’s Service has will continue to be maintained by the current legislation.’
NGOs, the parliamentary opposition and State Inspector Londa Toloraia have criticised the bill stating that the government aims to influence the independent institution.
The United Nations Human Rights office has called on the GD to withdraw a bill proposing to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies.
The Georgian parliament adopted the law on the State Inspector’s Service on July 21, 2018, and the Service began operations on November 1, 2019. Per the bill, the State Inspector’s Service is assigned to conduct the investigations with the supervision of the Georgian Prosecutor's office.