Georgian judge to challenge State Department sanctioning in US court

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. Photo: InterPressNews

Agenda.ge, 10 Apr 2023 - 11:36, Tbilisi,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.

The DoS on Wednesday sanctioned Shengelia, Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze and Valerian Tsertsvadze under the visa restrictions authority, alleging they 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”.

I would like to inform the public that I am taking active steps to address the appropriate United States judicial authority and challenge the unprecedented, completely unjustified decision to sanction me on the most serious charge of engaging in corruption, which is directed against my dignity and reputation”, Shengelia said. 

In his message on social media, Shengelia stressed he was “not going to get used” to being labelled as corrupt.

For me, the United States visa is not the main thing - I may never travel there - but the main thing is to protect the dignity and the business reputation that I believe to be the result of the conscientious and competent performance of my duties throughout my life”, he noted.

“Since the addressee of my lawsuit is a United States court, the lawsuit will be submitted to it in a certain time, after I decide on the organisational issues necessary for its submission. I am sure that the truth will prevail, and I will fully restore my violated rights”, Shengelia concluded.