‘Do not support Irakli Shotadze’ – Rally at Prosecutor’s Office

By Natalia Kochiashvili

Wednesday, February 5

Shotadze: “I think there should be a consultative body where victims can express their claims or opinions. Talk about any gaps or misconduct in the process. If I become a Prosecutor General, I plan to do so.”

Human Rights Center lawyer Nestan Londaridze: “If the Prosecutor's Office has to work on state official’s crime, it is interesting to see what position Irakli Shotadze will have in this regard, who is the main figure in this official’ case.” Photo: RFE/RL

The Human Rights Center NGO held a rally-performance at the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia. They demand that the Prosecutorial Council does not support the candidacy of Irakli Shotadze nominated for the position of Prosecutor General.

Nestan Londaridze, the lawyer of the Human Rights Center, said that Shotadze doesn’t have the right to lead the very prosecution office where many faulty parties were revealed during his tenure especially in the Khorava Street case.

Former Chief Prosecutor of Georgia Irakli Shotadze is among 16 candidates nominated for the post of Prosecutor General by the Prosecutor General's Office. Lawyer Shotadze was nominated to the post by Georgia’s Technical University. The prosecutorial council interviewed him yesterday, February 4.

Shotadze said that he decided to take part in the contest "after much thought" and that it was "not easy" for him to resign without a personal statement "in light of known circumstances."

According to Shotadze, often, the prosecution's criticism is groundless and based solely on political motives.

During the interview the former chief prosecutor was asked why he stepped down as chief prosecutor in 2018, and whether or not he would resign in such a critical situation again. Shotadze explained that there was a communication problem with the public regarding the Khorava case and noted that the problem remains until today, blaming the political parties.

Otar Kakhidze, a member of the Prosecutorial Council of Europe asked the former chief prosecutor about several specific high-profile cases. He said that at the time of Shotadze’s prosecution, Mikheil Kalandia had the status of a witness and an abductor. Today he is accused. Kakhidze asked if Kalandia’s status would change in case of electing Shotadze, given that the persecution was wrong either before, or now. Shotadze responded that due to the format of the Prosecutorial Council, he could not discuss the details of the case. He only said that the investigation into the ‘Khorava case’ should be completed and all perpetrators- punished.

Another question concerned the meeting of Bidzina Ivanishvili, Vano Chkhartishvili and Mamuka Khazaradze at Ivanishvili’s business center in 2013. Shotadze confirmed his presence there, noting that he wasn’t there as the chief prosecutor and that he “attended this meeting by accident.” Shotadze said that he was silent the whole time. Interestingly, the subject of the meeting was a civil dispute between Khazaradze-Chkhartishvili.

Shotadze resigned as Chief Prosecutor on May 31, 2018. That day, the Tbilisi City Court had ruled on the Khorava Street case after a four-month trial. The decision did not say who killed the minor Davit Saralidze. Following the verdict, protests began in Tbilisi, demanding the resignation of Shotadze and the government.

According to the Georgian legislation, the Prosecutorial Council nominates the selected candidate to the Parliament of Georgia and the Parliament elects the Prosecutor General by the majority.

The term of office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia is 6 years. The same person may not be elected Prosecutor General twice.

The position of the Prosecutor General has become vacant after Parliament elected Shalva Tadumadze as a lifelong judge of the Supreme Court.