Parliament Speaker on US sanctions on Georgian judges: “partners don't act like that”
In his remarks following his meeting with the US Ambassador Kelly Degnan, Papuashvili said Degnan had noted the move was not a sanction but a “visa restriction”, and that there had been a “language translation problem” in its representation to the Georgian public. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said the United States Department of State’s “personal attack” on four Georgian judges it had sanctioned on Wednesday, and its labelling of the individuals as “corrupt” was “absolutely unacceptable”, adding “partners do not act like that”.
The comment followed the sanctions on Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze, which the State Department said had been issued for their “involvement in significant corruption”.
The DoS comments on the decision also said the judges had “abused their positions as court chairmen and members of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public’s faith in Georgia’s judicial system”.
In his remarks following his meeting with the US Ambassador Kelly Degnan, Papuashvili said Degnan had noted the move was not a sanction but a “visa restriction”, and that there had been a “language translation problem” in its representation to the Georgian public.
We talked about the evidence behind this [decision], and the Ambassador reiterated that the decision was based solely on information from mostly public sources. Additional information does not seem to exist”, the Parliament Speaker said.
“From my point of view, making such serious accusations, personally attacking Georgian judges and labelling them as corrupt judges is absolutely unacceptable. Partners do not act like that”, Papuashvili said.
The lawmaking body’s official stressed the necessity of “presenting facts” substantiating allegations, ensuring the right to a fair trial and guarantees for the presumption of innocence.
If there is no evidence, then we expect that this restrictive measure will be withdrawn. It is our expectation - and this was also the case in the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - that either evidence is presented or, if there is none, or if it is not sufficient, then this restriction is lifted”, he noted.
“We cannot refer to Georgian citizens as corrupt without evidence. When a person is accused of a criminal offence, the facts must be presented, the right to a fair trial must be protected, and the presumption of innocence must be guaranteed”, Papuashvili concluded.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday highlighted a lack of Western sanctions on the Georgian judiciary under the previous United National Movement Government, where he said the system had been used as a “repressive tool”, in comments following the United States Department of States’ sanctioning of four current and former Georgian judges.
Georgian judges Levan Murusidze and Valerian Tsertsvadze on Thursday called the decision of the United States Department of State to impose travel restrictions on them for alleged corruption “unfair” and “politically grounded”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed “corruption processes” behind the United States Department of State’s decision to designate four Georgian former and current judges for sanctions for their “involvement in significant corruption”.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker in the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said the United States Department of State’s decision on Wednesday to impose sanctions on four Georgian judges was “unfair”, "absolutely unacceptable” and “incompatible” with the strategic cooperation between the states.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday said the move by the United States Department of State to impose visa restrictions on four Georgian judges “should not become a reason for further deepening of political polarisation” in the country.
The ongoing and future cooperation between the Georgian Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme was discussed on Friday between the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Nick Beresford, the UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.
Georgian judge Irakli Shengelia, one of four sanctioned by the United States Department of State last week, on Monday said he was going to appeal the decision in a US court.
Thea Tsulukiani, the Georgian Vice Prime Minister, on Monday said her Government was “demanding evidence” behind the United States Department of State’s decision to impose visa restrictions on four Georgian judges for alleged corruption.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday claimed surveys confirmed citizens' trust in the domestic judiciary had “increased greatly”, in comments following a meeting with members of the High Council of Justice.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday vowed his support to Georgian judges following the sanctioning of four current and former professionals by the United States Department of State for alleged corruption.
Salome Samadashvili, an MP for the opposition Lelo party, on Monday criticised Levan Khaberishvili and Ana Tsitlidze, two leaders of the opposition United National Movement party, for their departure for a visit to Poland ahead of a vote on the creation of an investigative commission in the Georgian Parliament following the United States Government’s sanctioning of Georgian judges last week.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said “personal attacks” on judges of the country’s judiciary were “unacceptable” when allegations of them being “corrupt” came without a “single fact or evidence”, in comments on the United States Department of State’s sanctioning of four former and current judges in the country.