Ruling party MP says Venice Commission recommendation on High Council of Justice may not be met

Mikheil Sarjveladze, an MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday claimed the Venice Commission recommendation about the “comprehensive reform” of the High Council of Justice – a body responsible for the selection and appointment of judges across the country – may not be considered, as the country’s Constitution defined its functions. 

 

“I personally think the functions of the Council of Justice are defined by the Constitution of Georgia and two main things are defined, that is to ensure the independence of the judiciary and the second, which is also the most important, is the appointment and dismissal of judges. Rethinking these two functions, how necessary it is, will be answered by the discussion held in the working groups”, Sarjveladze said. 

 

He noted he did not think there could be a “well-formed, mature opinion in Georgia that dismissal and appointment of judges should be carried out by someone other than HCoJ”. 

 

“I also do not think that we should touch the issue of independence of the judiciary. In the process of revising these topics, I did not meet a different opinion, so those who speak differently from the opposition, let them say what can be changed from this point of view, which function can be removed from the constitutional functions of the Council of Justice or which can be added”, Sarjveladze added. 

 

The Venice Commission said in its opinion on Monday that it welcomed certain, recent amendments in the Georgian judiciary, but noted five of its key earlier recommendations still needed to be addressed.