Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Monday said that the Georgian stakeholders should ensure the future ombudsperson of Georgia is an “independent figure”, amid the opposition’s claims that the ruling party moves to push its desirable candidate after incumbent Nino Lomjaria quits in December. 

The diplomat said the 12-point conditions of the bloc, which was set by the European Commission in June for Georgia’s membership candidate status, included the “independence” of the public defender. 

"Yes, this is part of the 12 recommendations, and I know that the process is underway and ensuring that the future public defender is an independent figure is in the hands of the Georgian stakeholders," the ambassador noted.

Lomjaria, who is disliked by the ruling Georgian Dream party, said her deputy, Giorgi Burjanadze, had plans to run for public defender. 

Lomjaria was accused of “backing the radical United National Movement opposition” by ruling party top officials, stating that “Lomjaria is a role model the public defender must not be like ''. 

The approval of the public defender candidate, who will be selected by the non-governmental organizations, will need 90 votes in the 150-member parliament.