US ambassador calls on parliament to pause splitting of State Inspector’s Service into two agencies
“It was done in a rushed manner without consultation, even with the State Inspector, let alone other stakeholders, and with no accountability or transparency. As far as we can tell, it also didn’t need to be done in a rushed fashion,” said Ambassador Degnan. Photo: US Embassy to Georgia.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has stated that ‘there is no need to rush’ with adopting a bill proposing to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies, calling on the Georgian parliament to slow down the process.
Georgian Dream party 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.
Ambassador Degnan met with State Inspector Londa Toloraia yesterday, after which she praised her for playing a ‘very important role in protecting citizens’ rights’ in the country, noting that the service’s job of investigating potential crimes by public servants and holding them accountable is a ‘difficult job, but an extremely important one.’
Ambassador Degnan’s Remarks to Media Following her Meeting with the State Inspector https://t.co/S2pEk3O0Dy
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) December 27, 2021
She called the new initiative of replacing the State's Inspector’s Service with two agencies ‘concerning,’ adding that the ‘process of developing this law is really of the greatest concern.’
It was done in a rushed manner without consultation, even with the State Inspector, let alone other stakeholders, and with no accountability or transparency. As far as we can tell, it also didn’t need to be done in a rushed fashion,” said Ambassador Degnan.
She also touched upon the issue of possible dismissal of ‘all the current employees in the State Inspector’s service,’ noting that ‘these are experts who’ve been doing these jobs for several years without any complaint or questions by parliament.’
However, the GD maintains that both the investigative and personal data protection agencies will be strengthened as a result of the changes, adding that the current employees of the state service will keep their jobs, as ‘they are professionals who have accumulated serious experience over the years, both in the field of investigation and personal data protection,’ MP Mamuka Mdinaradze said.
State Inspector Toloraia stated yesterday that the new initiative of the MPs is a 'punishment of the service for its independence,’ noting that ‘the State Inspector’s Service managed to become an independent state agency.’
This is an action against the independent institute and its staff. This is a punishment of the Service - for impartiality, for a conscientious attitude towards work and for abiding the law
— State Inspector’s Service (@DPAofGeorgia) December 27, 2021
Find More ???? https://t.co/9wsJyitcSO pic.twitter.com/yeQbCGu8fT
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria, President Salome Zurabishvili and the parliamentary opposition have also called on the legislative body to refrain from adopting the draft law.
Zurabishvili said that abolition of the Inspector’s Service is ‘unacceptable’ without prior consultations, adding that it is an ‘independent state institution.’
NGOs, the parliamentary opposition, State Inspector Londa Toloraia, and Public Defender Nino Lomjaria 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, stating that it is an ‘independent institution with a key role in torture prevention and privacy protection.’
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. According to the bill, the State Inspector’s Service is assigned to conduct the investigations with the supervision of the Georgian Prosecutor's office.
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.’
The United Nations Human Rights office has called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw a bill proposing to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies.
A total of 17 NGOs have called on the Georgian government to ‘stop attacks on independent institutions’ following Georgian majoritarian MPs’ proposal to replace the State Inspector's Service, which investigates alleged offences committed by state officials and law enforcement agencies, with the Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services.
Georgian majoritarian MPs have put forward a new bill which proposes replacing the State Inspector's Service with Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services.
Acting Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Asuncion Sanchez Ruiz has said that 'abolishing' the State Inspector's Service 'bears high risks' for the country's democracy.
Foreign dignitaries have expressed their concern over a bill proposed by ruling Georgian Dream party MPs to replace the State Inspector's Service with a Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Service.
The Georgian parliament has approved a bill to replace the State Inspector's Service with a Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Service in March 2022.
Eighty-one MPs supported the amendments proposed by ruling Georgian Dream party MPs in its third and final reading in the 150-member legislative body.
The United States Embassy to Georgia has denounced hasty legislative amendments proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, stating that the replacement of the State Inspector’s Service with two new agencies ‘undermined government accountability.’
Ruling Georgian Dream party Head Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that the US Embassy’s statement, which criticises GD for the abolition of the State Inspector’s Service, ‘shakes the confidence of the Georgian public in western partners.'
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has approved a bill adopted by the parliament on December 30 which replaces the State Inspector’s Service with two new agencies despite calls for a veto.
The United Nations Country Team in Georgia has expressed its concern over the government's abolition of the State Inspector’s Service, following the signing of the controversial bill by president Salome Zurabishvili on Thursday.