Ruling party MP accuses Swedish and Norwegian Ambassadors of alleged pressuring judiciary over opposition leader’s verdict

The chair of Georgia’s parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee, Archil Gorduladze, has accused the Swedish and Norwegian ambassadors of attempting to influence the country’s judiciary, following their public statements regarding the recent verdict against opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Gorduladze said it was “not the role of ambassadors to intervene in the activities of an independent court.” He claimed that while foreign representatives had previously tried to present their views more subtly, their recent actions were direct and unambiguous.

“Now everything is laid out openly. They are trying to exert pressure on Georgian society, the government, and various state institutions, including the judiciary,” Gorduladze said. He added that such efforts appeared aimed at increasing foreign influence and placing preferred political actors within Georgia’s institutions, which he said would never succeed.

Gorduladze stressed that legal avenues existed for those dissatisfied with court rulings, including appeals to higher domestic courts and ultimately to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. 

He also criticised what he described as the politicisation of criminal cases by opposition figures, noting that in past Strasbourg rulings, claims against the Georgian state had not been upheld.

“There should be accountability for attempts to politicise judicial proceedings, especially when these attempts have already failed in Strasbourg. Only then should statements be made,” Gorduladze added.