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.

Agenda.ge, 16 Feb 2022 - 11:43, Tbilisi,Georgia

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.