Ruling party MP says “no question mark” on Anti-Corruption Bureau Chair in response to Venice Commission opinion

Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said there were “no question marks” regarding the Chair of the country’s recently established Anti-Corruption Bureau and the procedure for their election, following the opinion of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe that on Tuesday said the “current institutional design does not provide for a sufficient degree of independence” of the body. 

The Commission’s opinion came as part of provisions on the Georgian law on combating corruption, and recommended that the head of the Bureau be appointed by the Parliament instead of the head of the Government. 

In his comments, Mikanadze said the basis of the opinion was “not clear”. 

The Anti-Corruption Bureau has been active since September, and the Chair of the Bureau is actively involved in the implementation of the powers assigned under his competence. There is no question mark regarding the Chair of the Bureau and the procedure for his election”, he said.   

“To this day, I have not heard of the Bureau not doing something, or questions on what it is doing. However, we will discuss this matter and discuss in more detail what legal arguments exist around a specific recommendation. There is enough time until February to consider the recommendations of the Venice Commission in more detail and depth”, he concluded. 

The new state body is tasked with combating corruption, supervising the implementation of the Government's general policy and national strategy against the crime, and coordinating activities of relevant bodies, organisations and officials.