Citizens opposition nominates its MP Ioseliani for new public defender

The citizens parliamentary opposition party has nominated one of its two MPs, Levan Ioseliani, for the country’s new public defender, as the term of the former public advocate, Nino Lomjaria, expired at the end of the last year. 

Aleko Elisashvili, the head of the Citizens party, has claimed Ioseliani was able to garnere necessary 90 votes in the 150-member parliament to take the seat, as electing the new public defender needs the support both from the ruling party and the opposition. 

“Our party has made a very difficult decision for us, but I think, and I am deeply convinced, that it is the right one for the country”, Elisashvili said. 

The ruling party has earlier conceded the right to nominate the new public defender to the opposition, but stressed it would not vote for the “politically biased” nominee.