The News in Brief
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
47 Civil Organizations Address Georgian Dream on Vetting, Emphasizing the Importance of Verifying Judges' Integrity
Members of civil society responded to the statement made by Georgian Dream regarding vetting and emphasized that the issue of verifying the integrity of judges cannot be dismissed. They stated that the mandate from the Georgian people, which is to enhance the judiciary and pursue membership of the European Union, supports this stance. 47 organizations have signed this statement.
"Today, there are fundamental questions about the integrity of the persons in leading positions in the judicial system and their possession of property incompatible with official duties. Additionally, it is significant that several influential judges are sanctioned by Georgia's strategic partner, the United States of America.
We think, first of all, it should be in the interest of the government and the judges themselves to remove all the questions in the society that are related to the problems of justice and the integrity of the judges. It is not clear to us, if there is no problem with the integrity of the judges, why the political and judicial authorities oppose this process," the statement reads.
Civil organizations assert that by closing this issue against the will of the Georgian people, the government puts the European integration process at risk. According to their assessment, verifying the integrity of high-ranking court officials will remain relevant to society until the goal of establishing an independent judiciary and securing Georgia's accession to the European Union is achieved.
Government Allocates 7.5 Million GEL for Gelati Monastery Complex Restoration
7.5 million GEL was allocated to finance the restoration, reconstruction, and conservation works of the Gelati monastery complex.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze signed the government's decree, which was issued on March 18.
According to the same decree, the transfer of this amount to the Orthodox Church is entrusted to the National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
"In order to finance the expenses related to the restoration, reconstruction, and conservation works of the Gelati monastery complex, the Ministry of Finance shall allocate 7,500,000 GEL from the fund of projects to be implemented in the regions of Georgia, as provided for by the Law 'On the State Budget of 2024', to the Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage operating within the sphere of governance of the Ministry of Culture," the decree reads.
47 Civil Organizations Address Georgian Dream on Vetting, Emphasizing the Importance of Verifying Judges' Integrity
"Today, there are fundamental questions about the integrity of the persons in leading positions in the judicial system and their possession of property incompatible with official duties. Additionally, it is significant that several influential judges are sanctioned by Georgia's strategic partner, the United States of America.
We think, first of all, it should be in the interest of the government and the judges themselves to remove all the questions in the society that are related to the problems of justice and the integrity of the judges. It is not clear to us, if there is no problem with the integrity of the judges, why the political and judicial authorities oppose this process," the statement reads.
Civil organizations assert that by closing this issue against the will of the Georgian people, the government puts the European integration process at risk. According to their assessment, verifying the integrity of high-ranking court officials will remain relevant to society until the goal of establishing an independent judiciary and securing Georgia's accession to the European Union is achieved.
Government Allocates 7.5 Million GEL for Gelati Monastery Complex Restoration
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze signed the government's decree, which was issued on March 18.
According to the same decree, the transfer of this amount to the Orthodox Church is entrusted to the National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
"In order to finance the expenses related to the restoration, reconstruction, and conservation works of the Gelati monastery complex, the Ministry of Finance shall allocate 7,500,000 GEL from the fund of projects to be implemented in the regions of Georgia, as provided for by the Law 'On the State Budget of 2024', to the Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage operating within the sphere of governance of the Ministry of Culture," the decree reads.