Georgian PM says vetting of domestic judges by diplomatic corps “against rule of law principle”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said the proposal of the opposition United National Movement party on the introduction of vetting of Georgian judges by foreign embassies was “against the principle of the rule of law” and the Georgian Constitution and contradicted judicial independence.

In his comments to the media, Kobakhidze slammed the radical opposition’s intentions to “regain their influence on the court” by proposing the vetting system, stressing the Georgian Dream Government would not allow it.

• Georgian PM rules out vetting of domestic judges by diplomatic corps

He also noted the previous UNM government used vetting as one of the instruments to “subjugate the judicial system”.

[Introducing] vetting means admitting that your state institutions failed”, Kobakhidze said, adding Georgia’s state institutions were successful and the vetting system was “absolutely unnecessary” in the country.

Answering the journalists' questions, the Head of the Government called the non-governmental sector in Georgia “the most non-transparent”, as their financing was “absolutely opaque”.

This information is very limited, which is naturally a serious problem, however, despite this, we manage to provide the public with appropriate information about who represents the interests of the Georgian people and who represents other interests”, Kobakhidze pointed out.

• Georgian PM says non-governmental organisations “cannot be lumped together” in criticism

When a donor funds a certain organisation, the donor must take full responsibility for any activities or statements of the respective organisation. This is the right standard”, the PM noted.

He cited “several very disturbing facts” of the NGOs’ financing “extremist organisations” in the country, and added that his Government would “do its best” to ensure that such organisations could not create a problem for the stability of Georgia.