Georgian Parliament Speaker calls for “explanations” for US sanctions on judges following ECHR ruling
In his reaction, Papuashvili said restrictions imposed on the judge by the US Embassy after the allegations had been “unfair and unreasonable”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said “unfair” sanctions imposed on several Georgian judges by the United States last year had given the domestic opposition and some non-governmental organisations “an excuse to attack” the domestic judiciary and “wage a smear campaign” against it.
Papuashvili called on the US to “explain the reasons” for the imposition of restrictions by the Department of State on Georgian judges over the recent years for their alleged involvement in corruption.
The comment came in the aftermath of a decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which last week rejected to consider the claim of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the domestic Mtavari Arkhi TV, against his earlier conviction for improper commercial deals in 2015 and 2019 during his time at the helm of Rustavi 2 TV.
Gvaramia’s domestic case had been ruled on by Tbilisi City Court Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze, who was also sanctioned by the US. The sanctions came after the judge alleged attempted interference of a US Embassy representative in his sentencing of the media and political figure.
In his reaction, Papuashvili said restrictions imposed on the judge by the US Embassy after the allegations had been “unfair and unreasonable”.
A week has already passed since it was proven [with the ECHR ruling] that the imposition of sanctions on judges was unfair [and] unfounded, and we still have not heard any response from any of the embassies, which two years ago were participants in the discreditation campaign against the Georgian judiciary”, Papuashvili said.
“It is part of a partnership that when something like this is confirmed by the highest judicial authority, a corresponding, adequate reaction is given to it. The only adequate answer, of course, would be [the US] lifting this sanction”, the Parliament Speaker said.
Papuashvili further questioned whether the sanctions were “a mistake” made by the former US Ambassador Kelly Degnan, the Embassy staff or “deliberate misrepresentation” by Embassy-sponsored NGOs in Georgia.