Georgian Dream Majority MP Says the Justice Minister Should Resign
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, June 26
A member of the Georgian Dream ruling party David Chichinadze has joined the demand of the opposition and the civil sector over the resignation of the Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani.
"Yes, I think she should step down. I have expressed this position several times, but this is up to the prime minister,” Chichinadze said.
Human rights defender Lia Mukhshavria believes that Tsulukiani, who has “failed” to carry out effective reforms in her ministry, seems to maintain the post.
She says in the situation when the new government intends to merge justice and corrections ministries with Tsulukiani as a minister will be a “step backwards.”
"The penitentiary system belongs to the Ministry of Justice in the developed countries.
“I think that the idea of the Ministry of Justice having more functions is a good idea, but if it is headed by Tsulukiani, the crisis will start in prisons too,” Mukhashavria said.
The opposition and the civil sector has been criticizing Tsulukiani, saying that her decisions and solutions are unfair and that she could not make efficient steps in her body.
Tsulukiani dismisses the allegations and says that with or without the post, she will stand by the Georgian Dream.
Tsulukiani took the minister’s post shortly after the Georgian Dream coalition founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili ended the nine-year rule of the United National Movement in 2012.
At that time she belonged to the Free Democrats opposition party, which separated from the Georgian Dream coalition in 2013.
However, Tsulukiani quit the Free Democrats party and stayed as the minister.
