Georgian Parliament Closes Independent Government Watchdog Investigating Violence of State Officials

03-01-22

Elia Duran-Smith

Europe and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

The Georgian Parliament provoked international concern after voting to abolish the independent State Inspector’s Service (SIS) on December 28th.[1] It had been investigating violence perpetrated by state officials, illegal interference in citizens’ lives, and the illegal use of personal data, including the publication of secret recordings.[2] At the end of 2021, the SIS had proposed new legislation to strengthen its institutional capacity and to eliminate barriers to properly investigate official crimes.[3]  

On December 25th, the State Inspector, Londa Toloraia, expressed that “the time of the initiation of the bill and the process of its expedited consideration somehow coincided with the pre-New Year period of the absence of the vast majority of representatives of the international and diplomatic corps in Georgia and my personal inspector's decree. This makes me think that this is not accidental”.[4] This perspective has been echoed by acting Head of the EU delegation Asunción Sánchez Ruiz.[5] 

The legislation will replace the State Inspector’s Service with two new bodies - the Special Investigation Service and Personal Data Protection Service - which the ruling Georgian Dream party states will separate the incompatible investigative and data protection areas of inquiry and will strengthen data protection mechanisms.[6] 

However, a group of 17 NGOs has called on the parliament to “stop attacks on independent institutions”, and instead to cooperate on reforms with civil society.[7] The Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights expressed its “deep concern” for the abolition of the “independent institution with key role in #TorturePrevention & privacy protection.”[8] Additionally, Ruiz said the EU was “disappointed” in this move to dissolve this body in which it had “invested substantial financial and human resources in its development”.[9] Moreover, ambassadors from countries across Europe and the US have conveyed their unease with the Parliament’s actions. [10] 

Sources and further reading: 

[1] Kochiashvili, N. (2021, December 29). Mandatory Committees Support the Bill to Abolish State Inspector’s Service. The Messenger. 

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/5058_december_29_2021/5058_natalia.html 

[2] Kochiashvili, N. (2021, December 31). Toloraia hopes President of Georgia will veto the law on replacing State Inspector’s Service with 2 new agencies. The Messenger. 

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/5060_december_31_2021/5060_natalia.html 

[3] Kochiashvili, N. (2021, December 29). Mandatory Committees Support the Bill to Abolish State Inspector’s Service. The Messenger. 

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/5058_december_29_2021/5058_natalia.html 

[4] Kochiashvili, N. (2021, December 29). Mandatory Committees Support the Bill to Abolish State Inspector’s Service. The Messenger. 

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/5058_december_29_2021/5058_natalia.html 

[5] ‘EU Delegation responds to expedited procedures in the Georgian Parliament relating to the State Inspector’s Service and the Judiciary’. (2021, December 28). InterPressNews. 

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/117562-eu-delegation-responds-to-expedited-procedures-in-the-georgian-parliament-relating-to-the-state-inspectors-service-and-the-judiciary/ 

[6] ‘EU Delegation responds to expedited procedures in the Georgian Parliament relating to the State Inspector’s Service and the Judiciary’. (2021, December 28). InterPressNews. 

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/117562-eu-delegation-responds-to-expedited-procedures-in-the-georgian-parliament-relating-to-the-state-inspectors-service-and-the-judiciary/ 

[7] Kochiashvili, N. (2021, December 29). Mandatory Committees Support the Bill to Abolish State Inspector’s Service. The Messenger. 

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/5058_december_29_2021/5058_natalia.html 

[8] UN Human Rights [@UNHumanRights]. (2021, December 27). #Georgia: Deep concern over proposals for Parliament to abolish State Inspector's office, an independent institution with key role in #TorturePrevention & privacy protection. We call for the initiative to be withdrawn & to ensure independence of national human rights mechanisms. [Tweet]. Twitter. 

https://twitter.com/UNHumanRights/status/1475408100458999811 

[9] ‘EU Delegation responds to expedited procedures in the Georgian Parliament relating to the State Inspector’s Service and the Judiciary’. (2021, December 28). InterPressNews. 

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/117562-eu-delegation-responds-to-expedited-procedures-in-the-georgian-parliament-relating-to-the-state-inspectors-service-and-the-judiciary/ 

[10] ‘Foreign dignitaries express concern over proposed replacement of State Inspector’s Service’. (2021, December 29). Agenda.ge. 

https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/4090