Parliamentary committee supports PM-nominated candidate for Personal Data Protection Service chair
Janashvili has supported the splitting of the State Inspector Service - a controversial decision that has seen backlash from several non-governmental organisations and criticism from several diplomatic representatives - into the two agencies, saying the move would “enhance the degree of independence, impartiality and neutrality of both services.” Photo: Parliament of Georgia.
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The Georgian parliament’s Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration has expressed support for Lela Janashvili, the candidate for the post of the Head of the Personal Data Protection Service, one of two new agencies launched to replace the outgoing State Inspector Service, on Friday.
Janashvili, nominated by the country prime minister, was speaking to the committee along with Tamar Alpaidze, another nominated candidate for the post, who received support from two deputies at today’s voting.
The head of the Personal Data Protection service will be elected at a plenary session of the parliament.
Emzar Gagnidze and Karlo Katsitadze are being considered for the position of the Head of the Special Investigation Service, the other body designed to replace the outgoing agency. The hearing sessions for the latter two candidates will be held at the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs.
Janashvili has supported the splitting of the State Inspector Service - a controversial decision that has seen backlash from several non-governmental organisations and criticism from several diplomatic representatives - into the two agencies, saying the move would “enhance the degree of independence, impartiality and neutrality of both services.”
The Georgian parliament approved the bill replacing the State Inspector Service, which investigated alleged offences committed by state officials and law enforcement agencies, with the two new bodies on December 30. The legislative changes involve facilitating the change in March.
Londa Toloraia, the State Inspector heading the outgoing institution, appealed the bill abolishing her service in Georgia’s Constitutional Court on January 25, requesting an “immediate suspension” of the process before the court delivers its decision on the case.
Several NGOs called on the Constitutional Court earlier today to give priority to Toloraia’s appeal and “suspend the validity of the disputed norms.”
The Georgian parliament approved the State Inspector Service in 2018, with the body operating since November 1, 2019 by conducting investigations with the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office.
Georgian State Inspector Londa Toloraia has appealed the law abolishing the State Inspector’s Service and replacing it with two new agencies in Georgia’s Constitutional Court. Toloraia said her appeal requested an “immediate suspension” of the law before the court delivers its final decision on the case.
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.'
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Monday opened the first session of the selection commissions for picking chairpersons of the Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Service, two agencies set to replace the outgoing State Inspector’s Service starting in March.
The first sessions of election commissions of candidates for the chairmanship of two new agencies: Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services, replacing the State Inspector’s Service will be held today, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced earlier today.
The Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia has expressed support for Emzar Gagnidze and Karlo Katsitadze, two candidates presented for the position of the Head of the Special Investigation Service by the prime minister, paving the way for the legislative body’s voting on their nomination.
The Parliament of Georgia appointed Karlo Katsitadze and Lela Janashvili to lead the Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Services respectively on Tuesday, with the two newly created agencies replacing the outgoing State Inspector Service.
Georgia’s Special Investigation Service, a recently established agency probing abuse of power at institutions, on Wednesday asked the country’s Parliament to extend its mandate and allow the body to look into all cases involving alleged violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.