Peter Stano, the spokesperson for the external affairs of the European Union, said that the reform of the judiciary is part of the 12 priorities set by the Commission for Georgia to receive EU candidate status.
„We take note of the US decision to designate four Georgian individuals linked to the justice system. It is up to the US to comment on their own policy and indeed the Secretary of State and the US Ambassador in Georgia have already done so. The reform of the judiciary is part of the 12 priorities set by the Commission for Georgia to receive EU candidate status. The authorities are expected to “ensure a judiciary that is fully and truly independent, accountable and impartial along the entire judicial institutional chain” and to “undertake a thorough reform of the High Council of Justice”. The EU is working closely with Georgia to support efforts to strengthen the rule of law, and the independence, integrity and accountability of the judiciary and prosecution, as well as to fight corruption“, he told Europetime.
According to him, the European Union has its own legislative framework for adopting sanctions that are always discussed and agreed upon by all 27 member states of the EU in consensus. „There is currently no EU sanctions regime in place for Georgia, and no sanctions decisions have been made related to the people mentioned below in the US sanctions" he told Europetime.
„There is currently no EU sanctions regime in place for Georgia, and no sanctions decisions have been made related to the people mentioned below in the US sanctions. As a general rule, we do not comment on sanctions decisions by others, the EU has its own legislative framework for adopting sanctions that are always discussed and agreed upon by all 27 Member States of the EU in consensus“, - Peter Stano said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has released a statement on public designations of Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze.
According to the statement, the above individuals abused their positions.
“Today, the U.S. Department of State is publicly designating Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze under Section 7031(c) visa restriction authorities, due to their involvement in significant corruption.
These individuals abused their positions as court Chairmen and members of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public’s faith in Georgia’s judicial system.
The United States continues to stand with all Georgians in support of democracy and the rule of law and will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain. We stand with all judges who have the integrity and courage to act impartially and independently.
Officials designated under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023 (Div. K, P.L. 117-328) (“Section 7031(c)”) and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States”, reads the statement.
