Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday slammed influential domestic NGOs, which he said were “fully funded” by foreign donors, for raising the issue of vetting of judges, whom they believe are running the “clan” inside the domestic judiciary and act in alleged coordination with the current Georgian Dream government.
Papuashvili criticized the NGOs for acting “in line with demands of their donors, rather than the state interests”, highlighting their lack of legitimacy and accountability to the Georgian people.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday also weighed in, asserting that the so-called vetting process contradicted the Constitution of Georgia. He argued that vetting, which entails verifying the integrity of judges, could potentially lead to the dismissal of judges appointed for life, which he claimed was unconstitutional.
Kobakhidze emphasized that judges appointed for life should be protected until they reach their mandated retirement age and opposed any initiative in what he said “undermines this principle”, labeling it as “unconstitutional and contrary to legal principles”.
Kobakhidze also condemned the “ongoing campaign to discredit the judiciary” stating that the Supreme Council of Justice – the body responsible for selection and appointment of judges – the constitutionally mandated body “responsible for ensuring the integrity of judges”.
He dismissed claims made by NGOs about the government hindering European integration by refusing to conduct vetting and emphasized the need for the government to “recognize and address judicial system issues promptly” in line with recommendations from the European Commission.
In a joint statement, five NGOs – Transparency International-Georgia, Democratic Initiative of Georgia, the Georgian Court Watch, Democracy Defenders and Civil Society Foundation – on Thursday criticized the government for alleged obstructing the vetting process, which they argue was “essential” for European integration and ensuring an independent and impartial judiciary in Georgia.
They urged the authorities to implement measures outlined by the European Commission to address systemic problems in the judicial system, including the establishment of a temporary mechanism for vetting judges.
