The President Says NGOs’ Demands on Justice Minister’s resignation is Logical
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, June 11
The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili says the demand of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Thea Tsulukiani’s resignation is “logical”, the president told the TV Pirveli media.
"The NGOs have expressed their clear position over Tsulukiani and stated that the selection of a new chief prosecutor needs public legitimization, in this regard they are the part of the legitimacy resulting from the competence.
“ First of all I was glad that they had set certain conditions. They said that they would not sit with the person, who had made so many mistakes," President Margvelashvili said.
A group of non-governmental organizations refused to participate in the selection process of a new chief prosecutor unless the Justice Minister Tsulukiani resigns.
The NGOs claim Tsulukiani cannot ensure the selection of an unbiased candidate. The NGOs say that the government is trying to find a way out of this crisis and make real changes.
However, the Prime Minister criticized the opposition for the demand and said the minister would retain her post.
All the statements came after the resignation of the Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze on May 31 regarding the murder case of two teenage boys in Tbilisi last year, as the family of one of the killed boys claims that the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia “falsified the case materials” to avoid punishment for an alleged killer.
Ten NGO heads stated that Tsulukiani was unable to deal with the reforms of her body and that during her leadership five chief prosecutors have changed.
