Special Investigation Service launches reorganisation to increase efficiency, institutional capacity

Georgia's Special Investigation Service on Saturday announced the beginning of the reorganisation effort, aiming to enhance the efficiency of investigations and its institutional capacity.

The Service said the Special Investigation Department would be created to investigate criminal cases of ill-treatment, violent crimes committed by law enforcement officers, as well as crimes against journalists, and conduct reinvestigations based on rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

It noted the Department of Investigation for the Disclosure of Personal Secrets would also be established to investigate criminal cases related to paedophilia, sextortion and private life blackmail.

“By creating two independent investigative departments, the Service will be able to allocate investigative resources to all categories of crimes rationally, and each investigator will have the opportunity to work on one type of crime. The reports of international organisations and human rights defenders highlight the recommendations for these regulations”, the body said.

The Service highlighted that the reforms were also related to threats and challenges for children and juveniles and the “new specialised Investigation Department should ensure timely and effective case investigation, crime prevention, and public awareness raising based on developed unified tactics, approaches”.

The body added the Monitoring Unit for Persons Convicted of Paedophilia and Sextortion would also be set up within the Department of Investigation for the Disclosure of Personal Secrets following the implementation of the legislative amendments proposed by the Service in this September to “monitor the behaviour of convicted individuals and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent them from committing repeated crimes”.

The Department will also incorporate the Victims’ Rights Protection Unit, the employees of which will daily inform affected citizens, including applicants, concerning their rights and responsibilities, offer them psychological support, familiarise them with criminal case materials, provide special protection programmes, and coordinate the process for sharing case materials with the representatives of the Public Defender's Office.

As part of the planned reorganisation, the Investigative Service announced the fifth regional division would be opened in Rustavi, a city south-east of the capital Tbilisi, to “further strengthen the Service and improve geographic accessibility”, with the construction of the office to be completed by April of 2025. 

The statement also mentioned the body had taken “numerous measures to strengthen its capacity and expand territorial coverage” which “positively impacted the service’s accessibility and the conduct of prompt and effective investigations”.