Chairperson says planned closure of State Inspector’s Office causes question marks

Head of Georgia’s State Inspector’s Office Londa Toloraia says that ‘a very unexpected bill’ initiated by the MPs of the ruling Georgian Dream party on the closure of the agency ‘causes question marks.’ 

The State Inspector’s Office was created back in 2018 and it is looking into alleged crimes committed by law enforcement agencies and officers. 

The agency has recently fined the country’s Justice Ministry and the Special Penitentiary Service 2,000 GEL for the release of videos of former president Mikheil Saakashvili in prison as they ‘violated the law on personal data.’ 

Toloraia posted on Facebook that the bill, which proposes replacing the State Inspector’s Office  with Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services, ‘was like a New Year surprise for her and the agency personnel.’ 

She says that the bill was pushed forward during day-offs alongside another bill which aimed to further strengthen the agency. 

Toloraia expressed hope that the bill by the ruling party MPs will not be approved. 

Georgian NGOs have called on the government to ‘stop attacks on independent institutions’ and ensure a smooth working of the agency.