Analyst slams Venice Commission’s role in Georgia’s judicial appointments

Analyst Zaal Anjaparidze on Thursday warned that the Venice Commission’s involvement in Georgia’s judiciary risked undermining the country’s sovereignty. Writing on social media, he said that the Georgian government had repeatedly assured both the public and European bureaucrats that foreign judges would not be appointed in Georgia.

Anjaparidze argued that judges appointed by outsiders would effectively serve foreign interests rather than Georgia’s judicial system. 

He also criticized EU-linked recommendations tied to the country’s EU accession process, saying they could erode traditional Georgian culture and social norms. Reflecting on national identity, he noted that the once-popular phrase, “I am Georgian and therefore European,” has taken on a more negative meaning amid these developments.