The News in Brief
Friday, November 4, 2022
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Political persecution puts Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future at risk, Kelly Degnan says
The US ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, responded to the appeal court's decision regarding the case of Nika Gvaramia and said that the impartiality of the judicial system is crucial for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future.
"The importance of an impartial judicial system is a central part of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future, and everything that even has the appearance of politicization, political persecution, puts this Euro-Atlantic future at risk", Degnan said.
"Everyone has seen the statements of the US Embassy and the European Union, as well as the statements of other European friends of Georgia. Everything that the US has been doing for Georgia for the last 30 years is aimed at supporting the Georgian people's clear choice for a democratic future.
The importance of an impartial judiciary is central to this future, and anything that even looks like politicization, or political persecution, puts this Euro-Atlantic future at risk. The leaders of Georgia, including the ruling party, promised the Georgian people in the parliamentary elections that further important steps would be taken on Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path, everything that prevents this and puts it at risk is cause for concern," the US Ambassador to Georgia said.
Irakli Kobakhidze criticizes US Embassy for 'interference' in the independence of the court
According to Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of "Georgian Dream", the statement issued yesterday by the US Embassy regarding the appeal court's decision to imprison the general director of "Mtavari Channel" Nika Gvaramia was a direct interference in the independence of the court.
As he told the journalists, Georgia's partners should be equally careful about the rule of law and the independence of the courts both in their own and in other countries.
"I have to evaluate such statements a little hard. In no case do we condone interfering with the independence of the court and influencing the court's decisions in any way. Yesterday I saw the statement of the US Embassy, it was a direct interference in the independence of the judiciary, which is naturally very serious. I can't give it another assessment.
Our partners should be equally careful about the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary both in their own country and in other countries, this is the only assessment I can make. We take a different approach to the independence of the court and the rule of law," said Kobakhidze.
Political persecution puts Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future at risk, Kelly Degnan says
"The importance of an impartial judicial system is a central part of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future, and everything that even has the appearance of politicization, political persecution, puts this Euro-Atlantic future at risk", Degnan said.
"Everyone has seen the statements of the US Embassy and the European Union, as well as the statements of other European friends of Georgia. Everything that the US has been doing for Georgia for the last 30 years is aimed at supporting the Georgian people's clear choice for a democratic future.
The importance of an impartial judiciary is central to this future, and anything that even looks like politicization, or political persecution, puts this Euro-Atlantic future at risk. The leaders of Georgia, including the ruling party, promised the Georgian people in the parliamentary elections that further important steps would be taken on Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path, everything that prevents this and puts it at risk is cause for concern," the US Ambassador to Georgia said.
Irakli Kobakhidze criticizes US Embassy for 'interference' in the independence of the court
As he told the journalists, Georgia's partners should be equally careful about the rule of law and the independence of the courts both in their own and in other countries.
"I have to evaluate such statements a little hard. In no case do we condone interfering with the independence of the court and influencing the court's decisions in any way. Yesterday I saw the statement of the US Embassy, it was a direct interference in the independence of the judiciary, which is naturally very serious. I can't give it another assessment.
Our partners should be equally careful about the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary both in their own country and in other countries, this is the only assessment I can make. We take a different approach to the independence of the court and the rule of law," said Kobakhidze.