Georgian Gov’t discrediting judges with dissenting opinions – 12 NGOs

Twelve Georgian NGOs on Friday urged the country’s authorities to cease an alleged campaign aimed at discrediting judges with dissenting opinions over vetting. 

The joint statement from the organizations stressed the imperative for the government to “fully adhere” to European Union standards, “essential not only for EU accession but also for fostering an independent and impartial judiciary and advancing the nation’s progress”.

Following Georgia’s attainment of candidate status from the EU last year, judicial reform was identified as a key prerequisite, the statement said, adding among other requirements, the creation of an exceptional system to verify the integrity of judicial candidates and appointees to pivotal roles within the judicial hierarchy, such as members of the Supreme Council of Justice, Supreme Court judges, and court chairs, was emphasized.

They claimed the Georgian government had taken a “staunchly adverse stance” toward this condition, “repeatedly expressing opposition” to the necessity of integrity checks for judges. 

The NGOs stressed Supreme Court judges Ekaterine Gasitashvili and Nino Bakakuri diverged from the court’s stance, publicly stating their non-support for the Plenum’s position on implementing the extraordinary integrity verification mechanism. Similar sentiments were echoed by judges at lower court levels, emphasizing their willingness to undergo integrity tests to align with Georgia’s European aspirations, said the NGOs.

“In response to the judges’ statements, the government initiated a smear campaign against dissenting judges. The Prime Minister, in a disparaging context, singled out a judge known for occasionally holding divergent views on current affairs. Additionally, members of parliament, Beka Odisharia and Davit Matikashvili, also castigated judges with dissenting opinions. These actions underscore the government’s intolerance towards critical and principled stances within the judiciary”, the statement said. 

The executive branch’s assault on a dissenting judge within the judiciary, under the pretext of case delays, is particularly troubling, it added. 

“We call upon the authorities to halt the campaign aimed at discrediting judges with dissenting opinions and to fully comply with EU standards, crucial not only for EU accession but also for establishing an independent and impartial judiciary and advancing the nation’s development”, said the NGOs, which include the Georgian Court Watch, Transparency International Georgia, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and others.