Herein, we draw attention to the authorities’ inaction against corrupt activities involving the US-sanctioned judges Mr. Mikheil Chinchaladze, Mr. Levan Murusidze, Mr. Irakli Shengelia, and former judge Mr. Valery Tsertsvadze.
A year has passed since the USA sanctioned the aforementioned persons for their involvement in serious corrupt activities; however, no government agency in Georgia has yet launched an investigation. Furthermore, during all this time, the authorities don’t only initiate legal proceedings for their alleged criminal activity but publicly support the sanctioned judges and, by conducting anti-Western propaganda, try to convince the public of the absurdity of these gravest accusations.
The support of the sanctioned persons on the part of the “Georgian Dream” became even more evident after the authorities refused to fulfill one of the European Commission’s conditions, which purports checking the integrity of high-ranking judges of the court (vetting). The authorities, in addition to violating the Georgian legislation by patronizing the sanctioned current and former judges and by refusing to investigate, by their inaction, are calling into question Georgia’s European integration process.
We urge the authorities to take legal action and launch an investigation into the alleged criminal activity of the sanctioned persons.
Signatories:
