Parliament appoints heads of special investigation, personal data protection 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 Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services on December 30, with the legislative changes coming into effect in March. Photo: Parliament of Georgia.
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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.
Nominated by the country’s prime minister and appointed for a term of six years, Katsitadze was supported by 76 votes in favour and one against, while Janashvili was supported by 77 votes in favour and two against.
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 Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services on December 30, with the legislative changes coming into effect in March.
Some foreign diplomats in Georgia, as well as non-governmental organisations and the opposition had called on the ruling party to pause the process of replacing the outgoing service, and called for consultations over the initiative.
However, the ruling party said the replacement of the State Inspector Service with the two agencies would strengthen and add functions to them.
The legislative body has approved the State Inspector Service in 2018, with the agency operating since November 1, 2019 by conducting investigations with the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office.
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 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.
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.
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 suspension of MP status for three opposition members arguably reduces pluralism and inclusiveness in the Georgian parliament, European Union Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell said on Wednesday in response to the decision passed by the legislative body.
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) calls on the Georgian government to suspend the law abolishing the State Inspector Service, the agency investigating violations by authorities and law enforcement, Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria announced earlier today.
Georgia’s Special Investigation Service has launched an inquiry after physical copies of personal data of diplomatic corps were allegedly leaked outside official premises in Tbilisi, the state body announced on Sunday.
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.
Georgia’s Personal Data Protection Service has launched a month-long online campaign focused on the importance of personal data protection for public and private organisations, the state body announced on Thursday.
The special investigative service of Georgia, a recently established agency probing abuse of power at institutions, is “actively involved” in the fulfilment of the European Union’s conditions for granting Georgia the membership candidate status, agency head Koka Katsitadze said on Monday.
The Georgian parliament on Wednesday adopted the amendments to the law on the special investigative service, increasing its investigative authorities, in the third reading with 80 votes in favour and one against.
Georgia’s Special Investigation Service on Wednesday said the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office had filed charges against a Russian citizen who injured a local reporter by intentionally driving a car into them in an incident last month.
Georgia’s Special Investigation Service, an agency probing abuse of power at institutions, on Wednesday announced the creation of its Section for Protection of the Rights of Victims.
Georgia’s Special Investigation Service on Friday said it had arrested one individual for an assault on a TV Pirveli journalist earlier this week.
The Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia on Tuesday announced it had obtained observer status in the European Data Protection Board.
Lela Janashvili, the Head of the Personal Data Protection Service of Georgia, on Tuesday said the personal data protection law adopted by the Parliament in June was expected to create a “sustainable and effective” protection mechanism and improve related laws.
Lela Janashvili, the head of the Georgian Personal Data Protection Service, on Tuesday discussed organisational questions and cooperation with Leonardo Cervera-Navas, the Secretary General of the European Data Protection Supervisor institution.