US Ambassador Degnan: Georgia needs experience of 'impartial professionals' like State Inspector
Ambassador Degnan pointed out the importance to 'consult with stakeholders' before abolishing a state institution. Photo: US Embassy press office
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has said that she shares Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili's concerns about a bill to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies, noting that Georgia needs the experience of 'impartial professionals' like the State Inspector.
President Zurabishvili approved a bill proposed by the ruling party MPs to replace the State Inspector's Service on January 13 as it had 'no legal objections.'
However, she pointed out that the amendments were passed in an expedited manner, saying that she found it 'unacceptable.'
Ambassador Degnan asserted that changing the State Inspector's Service should be a 'very careful process' as it is an 'established independent agency' aiming to protect the human rights in Georgia.
Certainly, it’s important to consult with stakeholders if you’re going to abolish the State Inspector Service and dismiss the inspector, who has a six-year term mandated by law... The idea that this is not abolishment—if that’s the case, then why was it necessary to dismiss the State Inspector? - she added.
Per the legislative changes, the State Inspector's Service and position will be abolished in March 2022, while two new state agencies - a Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Service will be established to investigate offences committed by authorities and to monitor personal data processing, respectively.
Ruling Georgian Dream party MPs maintain that they decided to split the State Inspector's Service because investigative and personal data protection functions are 'not compatible' with one another.
Ruling party MPs further noted that the 120 employees of the State Inspector's Service will not lose their jobs and will be allocated to the newly established agencies.
State Inspector Londa Toloraia criticised the newly approved bill, saying that she will appeal against it to the Constitutional Court of Georgia and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Georgian State Inspector Londa Toloraia has said that she will appeal against a recently approved bill to replace the State Inspector's Service with two new agencies to the Constitutional Court of Georgia and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
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 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.’
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.