Prosecutor’s Office to undergo institutional changes

The Chief Prosecutor’s office plans to undergo institutional reforms in the nearest future. At a special meeting held on December 27, the PM, Minister of Justice, staff of the Prosecutor’s Office and representatives of the deputy ministers of internal affairs, discussed the most problematic issues of the prosecutor’s office.

The former Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili who also participated in the meeting, said the procedures for appointing a chief prosecutor have to be changed along with the institutional changes.

“We have identified around 10 issues, that require immediate changes,” Kbilashvili said after the meeting.

The civil sector believes the independence of the prosecutor’s office should be ensured first of all. Head of the Yung Georgian Lawyers Association Ana Natsvlishvili, says its independence and effectiveness is most important, as well as keeping the prosecutor’s office accountable before the law and the Georgian people.

“The prosecutor’s office is facing serious challenges at the moment. We request that the institution be open and transparent,” said Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili after the meeting. He also mentioned the negative impact the backlog of unopened cases has on the prosecutor’s office. Deputy-Minister of Corrections Kakha Kakhishvili says the prosecutor’s office can become truly independent if it has the subsequent guarantees ensured by the Constitution.

“I believe the law should be amended to guarantee the independence of the prosecutor’s office, so none of the political groups that will take over the government in the future have a chance to ruin it,” Kakhishvili said.

According to Kakhishvili the prosecutor’s office is the key institution and its level of independence defines the independence of the interior ministry and other state bodies that are responsible for investigations and special operations.