Ruling party likely influencing selection process of new public advocate – GDI NGO head

The ruling Georgian Dream party is likely trying to make an influence on the selection process of the country’s new public defender, as the term of the current ombudswoman, Nino Lomjaria, expires in December, head of the Georgian Democracy Initiative NGO, Eduard Marikashvili, told Front News on Wednesday. 

In comments, Marikashvili stressed the role of the parliament speaker in the process. 

“Regulation of the whole process is subjectively entrusted to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, which is not provided for by law. If this process continues like this, then there will be question marks over the issue”, Marikashvili said. 

He stated that the ruling party had stated “nothing” so far over the engagement of the non-governmental organizations in the selection process. 

“In general, it is a very negative trend that the ruling party creates some black lists in relation to the civil sector, in which organizations critical of them are included. Their intention is to have as little public control over the authorities as possible, to allow them to make their own, often very unhealthy, illegal and harmful decisions to the country’s interests,” said  Marikashvili.

The GD has many times slammed the country’s current public defender Nino Lomjaria, accusing her of “backing the forces which are radical and act to change the authorities via a coup”.