Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Georgia, Nino Kadagidze, raised concerns over what she describes as growing external pressure on the judiciary, following the inclusion of Georgian judges in recent international sanctions lists for alleged corruption.
Speaking at a meeting in the Supreme Court with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and members of the High Council of Justice, Kadagidze criticized what she viewed as attempts to undermine the judiciary from within.
Kadagidze claimed that no substantiated claims of illegality had been presented against any judge who appeared on the sanctions lists, emphasizing that the judges in question “were simply carrying out their professional duties.”
“I cannot explain how a judge can be sanctioned merely for fulfilling professional responsibilities,” she said. “Not a single argument has been made about the illegality of any decision.”
She suggested that the purpose of the sanctions may be to trigger a psychological effect – aimed at encouraging self-censorship or fear among judges – thereby weakening the judiciary from within.
“The appearance of judges’ names in the sanctioned lists indicates that the pressure is already moving in another direction,” Kadagidze said. “Most likely, the calculation is that the instinct of self-preservation in individual judges will be strengthened, and this will ensure the collapse of one of the branches of government from within.”
Kadagidze also expressed disappointment that such pressure, in her view, was coming from countries that have traditionally championed the independence of the judiciary.
“It is especially worrying and sad that the pressure is from states whose democracies have been founded on protecting judicial independence,” she noted.
Despite the criticism, Kadagidze expressed confidence in the integrity and stability of the Georgian judicial system, highlighting the “professionalism and responsibility” of Georgian judges.
“I deeply believe that each of us is aware of the main goal for which we, the Georgian judiciary, are fighting,” she said. “In these difficult circumstances, which I am convinced will end in our favor, it is important for the judiciary to engage with the executive branch.”
The meeting comes amid increasing scrutiny of Georgia’s judiciary and political institutions by international actors, including Western governments that have imposed targeted sanctions citing concerns about rule of law and judicial independence.
Several judges sanctioned by the US and the UK were involved in various controversial and high-profile cases under the previous United National Movement government and have been accused of affiliation with the current ruling Georgian Dream party by the domestic opposition and the civil sector.
