Special Statement of Mariam Jishkariani and Group of Experts of the Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture Empathy

Special Statement of Mariam Jishkariani and Group of Experts of the Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture Empathy on the Issue of Legislative Initiative of Gedeon Popkhadze and others, Aimed at introduction of amendment, according to which “in the event of urgent need search can be conducted on the grounds of oral orders of investigator” 

January 11 of  2015

The group of experts of the center Empathy is categorically denouncing given initiative and considers it as roll back into the soviet past. The proposed amendment shall cause gross violations of individuals’ rights and shall become “legitimate” means of execution of violations and political persecution in partial and selective manner. It is difficult to understand for us, that given initiative belongs to the Parliament, which should be striving towards improvement of legislation, protecting human rights. At the same time it should be noted, that this initiative is happening in the circumstances, when in the direction of improvement of investigation of cases of torture and fighting with impunity the situation has not improved either on legislative, or practical levels.

The above referred amendment once again indicates to the need of adoption of lustration legislation on urgent basis and the National Preventive Mechanism should be set up independently from the Public defender’s Office, so that the balance is maintained in the sphere of protection of human rights in the country. Also, those groups of people, who are turning the country into the soviet past, should be removed from power.

Taking into consideration the above mentioned, the group of experts of the center Empathy is calling upon the President of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Margvelashvili, as well as the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Mr. David Usupashvili and Members of the Parliament of Georgia to target their efforts towards disallowing adoption of such amendments, start consideration of initiation of adoption of lustration law and consider removing of the National Preventive Mechanism from the Public Defender’s Office. These are the minimal necessary actions, which shall prevent the threat of Georgia moving back into the soviet past.

Group of Experts of the Center Empathy