“Young Barristers” considers State policy which improves social security for those who served in special services or served more years than others, as justified. The organization refers to the Parliament to consider other legislative proposals, in relation with State Compensations and State Academic Scholarships, in a timely manner.
Lasha Tsibadze, a Lawyer with “Young Barristers” states, that the amendments to the Law of Georgia on “State Compensations and State Academic Scholarships”, will be applied to the wider society since August 1, 2015. According to the new regulations, state compensations will be assigned to the following recipients: the persons dismissed from the military bodies, the bodies of internal affairs, the special service of state security, General Inspection of the Ministry of Corrections, Investigative Departments and SPS or to those with special titles. The persons dismissed from the Georgian Intelligence Service and the investigation service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia are also entitled to the State compensation. The state compensation shall be assigned to the members of the families of servants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia or State Security Service who were dead or injured while performing their official duties on April 9, 1991, day of restoring independence.
“Young Barristers” provide, that these changes are in line with EU directives. Providing social security guarantees in Georgia is based upon constitutional provisions of justice, equality and state principles of receiving compensations and academic scholarships. As it is known, following recipients are entitled to the scholarships: the members of the Parliament of Georgia, the officials of the Parliament of Georgia, the members of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, the judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia, the judges of the Common Court of Georgia …. The grounds for assignment of such scholarships are: expiration of years of service established by the law, reaching 65 years of age, establishment of disability status, death of a breadwinner.
The organization supports another legislative proposal as well, according to which the status of the MPs of Georgian SSR Supreme Council should equal to the status of the members of the Parliament of Georgia. The members of Supreme Council of the 12th convocation receive such State compensation, but not the members of the 11th or previous convocations. This legislative proposal was considered by Human rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia in July 2015, and the committee has noted, that final decision over the issue would be submitted after relevant consultations with the Government.
“Young Barristers” studied the issue of state compensations/academic scholarships given to the one certain group, namely social security of the former MPs. According to the information provided by the Parliament on July3, 2015, since the period of the enforcement of the Law of Georgia on the State Compensation and Academic Scholarship up to May 21, 2015, no former MP has ever refused to receive compensation. As for the information, provided by the Social Service Agency, on June 17, 2015, former MP’s (Supreme Council) compensation amounts 1/3 of the salary of the current parliament official being on the same position, provided it doesn’t exceed 560 GEL. The organization has studied information about State compensations/Academic scholarships given to the former MPs during 2010-2015. The monitoring revealed, that 350,000 GEL was transferred to the former members of the Parliament (Supreme Council) per month. In 2010, 6299 MPs received in total 3 565 543,07 GEL; in 2011- 7639 ex MPs received 4 314 520,92 GEL, in 2012 – 7622 MPs - 4 316 436,37 GEL; in 2013 – 8028 MPS received 4 522 409,07 GEL and in 2014, 8070 ex MPs - 4 548 110,13 GEL. As for 2015, by July, 4011 ex MPs have received 2 254 042,24 GEL in total.
