Majority MP to Leave GD if Parliament Approves List of Judges

Ruling Georgian Dream (GD) lawmaker Beka Natsvlishvili says he will leave the majority if the parliament approves the list of judges offered by the High Council of Justice (HCOJ).

"I have already expressed my position by saying a long time ago that this list should be withdrawn. We recognize the criminal nature of the previous government that had its own judges, and therefore, these judges should not work even at the lower level of the judiciary,” Natsvlishvili stressed.

The list of 10 lifetime judges is highly controversial. It was approved by the HCOJ on December 24 and sent to the parliament for further approval.

Eight HCOJ members supported 10 judges for the Supreme Court of Georgia without notifying non-judge members of the council.

Non-judge members Anna Dolidze and Nazi Janezashvili called the list “shameful”, adding the presented candidates did not have a good reputation due to “biased judiciary” as they had been working under the previous government.

The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary, composed of around 40 NGOs, released a statement calling on Parliament to suspend consideration of the Supreme Court candidates.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the legislative body will discuss the list during the spring session.

He explained that the postponement is to ensure the staffing of the Supreme Court with highly qualified personnel.

The issue also caused diverse opinions within the GD. MP Eka Beselia stepped down from her position as chairperson of the Parliament's Legislative Affairs Committee, saying she resigned in response to "the hasty and unjustified process of appointing Supreme Court judges for life."

In addition, GD MP Gedevan Popkhadze was withdrawn from the Parliament’s Committee on Legal Issues after Beselia named his candidacy for the position of the Chair when quitting her post. Popkhadze confirmed it was also connected to the list of the judges.

By Thea Morrison

Related stories:

Majority MP Withdrawn from Legal Issues Committee

Eka Beselia Resigns Her Post as Chair of Legal Affairs Committee

Levan Murusidze Appointed as Lifetime Judge

Parliament Postpones Consideration of Supreme Court Candidates until Spring