The United Nations Country Team in Georgia, along with other international and local players, expressed disappointment this week over the decision made by Georgian authorities to abolish the State Inspector’s Service. On January 13th, President Salome Zurabishvili signed a new law that would eliminate the State Inspector’s Service and create two separate institutions: the Special Investigative Service and the Personal Data Protection Service.
The UN Country Team in Georgia is particularly concerned about the lack of inclusive and transparent discussions surrounding the decision to abolish the State Inspector’s Service. This institution is known for its credibility, independence, and authority in investigating alleged human rights violations committed by law enforcement officials and overseeing personal data protection. The sudden and unexplained removal of this institution and the six-year mandate of the State Inspector sends a concerning message to other independent human rights protection agencies.
The UN Country Team is also worried about the potential consequences of expanding the list of crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the newly created Special Investigation Service. This could lead to an overwhelming workload for the agency and distract them from their primary mandate of combatting impunity. The team recalls a recommendation from the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment during his mission to Georgia in 2015, expressing concerns about the risk of overburdening the State Inspector if their mandate includes crimes not directly related to torture or cruel treatment.
The UN Country Team urges the authorities to seek the opinion of relevant international institutions on the compliance of these decisions with international standards. Even President Zurabishvili herself acknowledged the lack of proper consultation and discussion surrounding the decision to abolish the State Inspector’s Service. While she does not have any legal objections to the changes, she finds it unacceptable to pass such an important law without proper consideration and input from all parties involved.
In conclusion, the UN Country Team in Georgia and other international and local players are disappointed with the decision to abolish the State Inspector’s Service and urge the authorities to seek the opinion of relevant international institutions. The lack of transparency and consultation surrounding this decision is concerning and could have negative consequences for human rights protection in Georgia.
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