Georgian PM vows support to judges, highlights “unacceptability” of interference with judiciary
The Government head said putting pressure on judges and interfering in the judiciary was a “kind of taboo” across countries, and added his team’s “common desire is to have an even more free, independent and strong judiciary”. Photo: Government Administration
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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.
Garibashvili responded to the development following a meeting with the members of the High Council of Justice by saying “any interference” or “any influence” on judges was “unacceptable”, and stressing the country’s judiciary had become “independent and free” under the Government of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
As the head of the Government and the representative of the ruling party, I declare full support to all judges. The court has become independent during our Government - free from any interference, both domestic and foreign. Of course, any interference with, or any influence on the judges is unacceptable. This is absolutely unacceptable to all of us, especially when it comes to a sovereign court and judges of a sovereign country”, Garibashvili said.
“I have also assured the honourable judges of our full support. We will do our best to protect the independence of the court, the freedom of the court, from any interference or pressure. This is our declared policy, and the main goal that we have been striving for since our team came to power”, he continued.
The head of the Government also commented on the State Department decision by noting “not a single citizen of our country has seen a single piece of evidence that accompanied the US decision, so for me this decision raises a big question mark”.
This decision is unfortunate and incomprehensible. [...] I think the truth will come out. We will have a conversation with our partners, and not a single question will be left unanswered. [...] I want to emphasise that it is unacceptable and inadmissible to interfere in the independent court of a sovereign country in any way”, Garibashvili noted.
The Government head said putting pressure on judges and interfering in the judiciary was a “kind of taboo” across countries, and added his team’s “common desire is to have an even more free, independent and strong judiciary”.
The State Department on Wednesday sanctioned Irakli 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”.
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 said he was “proud” of the country’s judiciary and judges, following the United States Department of State’s move last week to sanction three acting and one former Georgian judges for alleged corruption.
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 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.
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”.
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”.
Nino Kadagidze, the Chair of the Georgian Supreme Court, on Monday expressed her fears the United States Department of State’s sanctions on four Georgian judges could be “used” against the country’s interests ahead of the European Union’s decision this year on whether to grant the country its membership candidate status.
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.
Thea Tsulukiani, the Georgian Vice Prime Minister, on Tuesday said the United States Department of State’s sanctions on Georgian judges were “incomprehensible” in light of the West’s “backing” of their lifetime appointment to ensure further independence of the domestic judiciary.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the question of the opposition United National Movement party forming a Parliamentary investigative commission into the domestic judiciary following the United States Government’s sanctioning of Georgian judges could not be discussed “in any case”.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said the “radical” part of the domestic opposition would “not be allowed” to “undermine” the country’s judiciary and European prospects, in comments after the ruling Georgian Dream party refused to register for the opposition-initiated vote on forming a Parliamentary inquiry on the domestic judiciary.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday called the proposal by the domestic opposition for the formation of a Parliamentary inquiry into alleged cases of corruption and other violations in the country’s judiciary a “harmful initiative”.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Human Rights Committee from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said members of the party were standing in solidarity with the domestic judiciary system and not individual judges, in a response to comments by the United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday highlighted the “great progress” made by the country’s juridical system, and stressed transparency and rule of law as priorities of his Government, in comments at the Bratislava Global Security Forum.