Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze Condemns Vetting
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, March 15, 2024
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze responded to the information regarding two judges of the Supreme Court, Ekaterine Gasitashvili and Nino Bakakuri, stating, "They shouldn't talk about other people's integrity," in reference to their disagreement with the statement issued by the Supreme Court on Vetting.
Kobakhidze stated that according to the constitution, the only body responsible for checking the integrity of judges is the Supreme Council of Justice. He emphasized that anyone with concerns about potential law violations should approach the Supreme Council of Justice.
"As for the two judges of the Supreme Court, I think at least one of these two has a problem of integrity, based on the fact that one does not consider cases in due time, one is lazy. If there was a question of checking integrity, such judges should check their own, and they should not talk about the integrity of others, but this is the maximum statement I am going to make regarding the court. It is an independent branch. It is neither mine nor anyone else's job to check integrity
As for checking the integrity of judges - the only body, according to the constitution, which checks the integrity of judges, is the Supreme Council of Justice. Anyone who is interested in the integrity of judges and has certain doubts about violations of law should contact the Supreme Council of Justice. Then let them see how correctly the Supreme Council of Justice investigates this issue. But there is no case. Therefore, they cannot apply to the Supreme Council of Justice either. Therefore, it is empty talk," Kobakhidze said.
Kobakhidze pointed out that there's an unfounded campaign to discredit the judicial authorities, which is an attempt to interfere with the judiciary.
"As the head of one of the branches of the government, I find it categorically unacceptable to discredit the court's actions against the government without any valid arguments or justification. This is typically an attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary, which we cannot allow. The judiciary, like all other branches of the government, must remain independent and accountable only to the Georgian people," Kobakhidze stated.
