On July 10, 2015, Georgian NGO “Young Barristers” attended a meeting evaluating the MIA and Prosecutor’s Office reform. Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze, the Parliamentary Secretary of the President of Georgia, and Kakha Kojoridze, the Adviser of the President of Georgia, have met experts and representatives of the non-governmental organizations invited to the meeting. Legislative proposals represented by the Ministry of Justice and the Government about structural changes in both, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Prosecutor’s Office were discussed in detail during the meeting.
Archil Kaikatsishvili, a Head of “Young Barristers” has noted, that critical views towards represented changes is a part of reformation process, however he can’t agree with an assumption, that structural changes within above mentioned authorities are kind of imposed. Pre-election program of the coalition “Georgian Dream” already included the promise, that the coalition would ensure implementation of relevant structural changes in both, MIA and Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.
„The draft laws are the results of those promises and it itself represents a significant progress. Nevertheless, we can evaluate offered amendments critically and say that they are not perfect. The aim of our discussion is to identify gaps in the draft law, the gaps which 3rd sector is willing to eliminate, before the it is represented to the parliament for final approval. I would like to pay your attention to the issue of institutional accountability and remark, that it would be better and even more, it is necessary that the draft law determined to increase parliamentary control. For instance, in the circumstances, when the Main Prosecutor is approved by the Parliament, it would be more relevant that such an official was accountable to the Parliament, who legitimize a person on the position, rather than being accountable to the Prosecutorial Council only. Another gap in the draft law is that, there can’t be found a role of the President anywhere. Selection mechanism of the prosecutor is also very complicated. We have heard discussion about what kind of Prosecutor’s Office we want? Political or professional? Of course, we have to make all possible efforts to finally get really professional Prosecutor’s Office. I don’t know what does the President think about draft amendments, what is his attitude towards the issue, whether he is going to use veto or not, but in any event, the President should well-substantiate his attitude towards the issue. In my honest opinion, changes are necessary and are to be done and this discussion is very beneficial in this record.”- stated Archil Kaikatsishvili.
As it was noted by Kakha kojoridze, the position of the President’s Administration is as follows: “Today the country is in need of independent, impartial and neutral Prosecutor’s Office. Unfortunately, represented draft law of amendments, can’t provide these goals. As for the MIA, here, the opinion is consolidated, in the sense, that in the first place it was necessary to understand and realize the problems following structural changes of the MIA better; it should have been first determined, what were the goals, to be achieved by dividing the structure of the Ministry. The reform needs more analysis .”- stated Kakha Kojoridze.
