Last updated: Monday, 11 November 2024

Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary

Statement Regarding the Preliminary Joint Opinion on the Prosecution Reform

On 7 July 2015 Venice Commission, Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) issued a preliminary joint opinion on the draft amendments to the Law on Prosecutor’s office of Georgia. Prior to the issuance of the opinion, the Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary had evaluated the draft amendments reforming the prosecution system that were proposed by the Ministry of Justice and supported by the Government of Georgia. Additionally, the Coalition had the opportunity to present its detailed opinion on the prosecution reform to the Venice Commission.

The preliminary joint opinion of the Venice Commission, Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE), and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) (henceforth: preliminary opinion) states, that the prosecution reform initiated by the Government of Georgia is a step in the right direction, however, it stresses that the proposed reform does not yet fully ensure the stated objective of the Government to ensure full depoliticization of the prosecution system. The preliminary opinion gives recommendations, which are largely in line with the opinion of the Coalition, that the proposed reform is insufficient for full depoliticization of the prosecution system.