Independent anti-corruption agency needed, not PM’s “tail” – opposition MP

An independent investigative, anti-corruption agency should be created, not the “tail” of the Prime Minister, Paata Manjgaladze, Strategy Agmashenebeli opposition MP stated on Wednesday about the recent bill of the ruling party, which offers the creation of the anti-corruption bureau, with its head appointed by the PM.  

 

“The idea that the PM appoints the head of the bureau means the creation of another agency subordinate to the vertical, which serves only as a facade for the implementation of the European recommendation, and not for anti-corruption measures. An independent investigative agency should be created”, he said. 

Anri Okhanashvili, the ruling party MP chairing the parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, announced the initiation of the bill on Wednesday, claiming that it was part of the European Union’s 12-point conditions for granting Georgia the membership candidate status. 

The MP said that the new agency would supervise the implementation of the document defining the general policy to combat corruption and the national anti-corruption strategy of Georgia, and would also coordinate the activities of appropriate bodies, organisations and officials, with the discussions around the amendments launching next week.