Ruling party attacks on Public Defender only strengthens the agency – Ombudswoman Lomjaria

Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria on Friday responded to the comments of Georgian Dream ruling party top figures over her “low rating and backing the radical opposition”, stating that the “attacks only strengthens the Public Defender’s office”.

 

In comments, Lomjaria said it was unclear for her why the ruling party officials were “attacking” her, noting that the Public Defender’s Office was an “independent institution” and “no politician has the right to dictate her what to do”.

 

“High officials of the ruling party are conducting an active campaign against the Public Defender. It is incomprehensible and inexplicable to me why there is such concentration on the person of the public defender. Why are they trying to discredit the ombudsperson with attacks?!” Lomjaria said.

 

The ruling party head Irakli Kobakhidze said Friday that Lomjaria “had no rating,” noting that the latter was “backing the radical opposition who wish to drag Georgia into Russia’s war in Ukraine”.