Tsulukiani: I’m staying as Justice Minister
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, March 13
Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani has stated that she stays as the minister, after her own hints about possible resignation on Monday.
She claimed that there was an issue she had controversies with the government.
“The issue is solved. We continue working as a united team under conditions of common standpoints.”
“There was a disagreement over certain issues. However, we managed to exchange viewpoints and reached an agreement,” Tsulukiani said.
On March 11, Tsulukiani did not rule out quitting the post. She told journalists there was an issue which had to be resolved within the scope of her ministry.
Tsulukiani said that if contradictions occur on this issue “she will step aside”
“There is a discussion on this issue, and I have my own firm position, which does not concern any reform, process or procedure that is now taking place in parliament. This is an issue that, in my opinion, is very important. And if I see that this position is not shared, and there is a contradiction between the values, of course, I will step aside without any doubts,” Tsulukiani said.
Gia Volski, Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament said that the issue which Tsulukiani mentioned was possibly about disjointing of Penitentiary Service from the ministry.
Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated that he “cannot imagine the Georgian Dream team without Tsulukiani.”
Tsulukiani is a member of our team and she has contributed a lot to our success,” he said.
PM confirmed that there was a difference in opinions over one initiative referring to a “professional issue” but the team managed to reach an agreement after heated discussions.
“Holding heated debates is normal and this is a principle which we guide within management,” Bakhtadze said.
Tsulukiani was the member of the Free Democrats party when the Georgian Dream coalition, with Free Democrats in, defeated the nine-year rule of the United National Movement in 2012.
Tsulukiani left the party in 2014 when Free Democrats decided to leave the coalition.
