Rule of Law, Human Rights and Freedom of Media

Georgians are Split over the Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia

Georgians are Split over the Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia

Rustavi 2 broadcasted an investigative film created by the Studio Monitor and Radio Liberty about a suspended investigation of the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia. The film How to subjugate a judge? focused on accusations against prosecutors and judges related to the abuse of power, seizure of real estate, and giving of land to private individuals. Phone survey was conducted to find out if people watched the film and what was their attitude towards the issues raised in it. 

IDFI’s Opinion on the Reform Separating Prosecutorial and Investigative Powers

In 2018, the Georgian Government initiated a wide-scale reform of the investigative system with one of the key elements of the reform being separation of the investigative and prosecution functions.

New System of Case Distribution in Common Courts

Introduction of the electronic system for case distribution in Common Courts is one of the most important novelties introduced under the "Third Wave" of judicial reform. One year monitoring revealed the following significant challenges with regards to the full implementation of the new system. 

System for Disciplinary Liability of Judges

Significant steps have been taken under the “Third Wave” of the judicial reform in terms of improving system for disciplinary liability of judges. 

Implementation of the Judicial Strategy and the 2017-2018 Action Plan

Based on the requirements set forth in the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, the judicial branch of the government developed the 5-year strategy for judicial reform and the 2-year Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for the first time in Georgia’s history. 

Assessment of the Judicial Reform

Present report describes and assesses the two novelties introduced in the so-called “third wave” of the judiciary reform: the electronic system of case distribution and the system for disciplinary liability of judges as the office of Independent Inspector has been put into action.

High Council of Justice Fully Grants the Appeal of IDFI

On February 27, 2019, High Council of Justice (HCoJ) granted the appeal of Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) to abolish its administrative act and obligate the person responsible for public information to provide requested information to IDFI.

The Government of Georgia reduces its efforts to implement OECD-ACN Recommendations

Anti-Corruption Network of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD-ACN) published its second progress report on anticorruption recommendations issued for Georgia in its Fourth Round Monitoring Report. Of the 22 total recommendations, none of them showed significant progress, 17 were assessed as having some progress, and four of them indicated lack of progress, while no rating was granted to the remaining one.

Selection of Supreme Court Judges: Public Knowledge & Attitudes About the Process

On December 24^th, 2018, High Council of Justice (HCoJ) of Georgia nominated ten candidates to the country’s Supreme Court. The nomination caused controversy among the representatives of civil society organizations as the nominated judges were either leaders or close associates of a group of judges (so called “clan”) exercising an informal power over Georgia’s judiciary.