On November 26, a statement signed by employees of the Public Defender’s Office was released regarding the Public Defender’s attendance at the parliamentary session and the constitutionality of parliament’s recognition of authority.
See the statement, unchanged:
“We, the employees of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, have always been and remain committed to the people, state interests, and the fundamental principles and goals of the constitutional body. As public servants, within the framework of civil service legal relations, from the moment of taking the oath, we are guided only by the Constitution of Georgia, Georgian laws, and international treaties.
Our sole purpose is to implement timely, comprehensive, independent, and impartial supervisory functions for human rights protection. Based on the above, we consider it important to publicly express our position on the Public Defender’s attendance at the parliamentary session and the constitutionality of parliament’s recognition of authority.
The Constitution of Georgia and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia consider it inadmissible to recognize parliamentary authority if the legality of the election of parliament members is challenged in the Constitutional Court. As is known, the legality of the election of all 150 members of parliament has been challenged in the Constitutional Court by the President of Georgia and one-fifth of the members of parliament (who, together with the Public Defender, represent special subjects for the purposes of contesting election results), on which the Constitutional Court must make a decision within a shortened timeframe (30 days).
On November 25, in disregard of the rules established by the Constitution of Georgia and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Georgia, the authority of those members of parliament whose election legality has not yet been decided by the court, was recognized. We regret the Public Defender’s participation in such processes that violate the constitutional-legal order and damage the activities and trust of the Public Defender as an independent constitutional body.
It should be noted that the office employees constantly make efforts to use internal resources to discuss and resolve these and other problems. Since these issues concern matters of public interest, we considered it critically important to inform the public about our position, to whom we are accountable as public servants. We realize that such events negatively impact the reputation of the institution, which we, as public servants employed here for years, have built, not just Public Defenders elected for certain terms.
We clearly state that the position of professionals employed here is principled not only regarding this issue but also other issues, and our priorities, vision, and beliefs regarding human rights have not changed.”
Signatories to the statement:
1. Ani Saldadze
2. Eka Mamrikishvili
3. Elene Chavleshvili
4. Eva Pajishvili
5. Giorgi Kvirikashvili
6. Giorgi Tkebuchava
7. Giorgi Melikidze
8. Giorgi Kajaia
9. Giorgi Charkviani
10. Giorgi Dzadzua
11. Gvantsa Kharatishvili
12. Lara Jamarauli
13. Lika Batsikadze
14. Lika Gvinjilia
15. Levan Papava
16. Mako Arabuli
17. Mariam Tavdgiridze
18. Mariam Makharadze
19. Mariam Moseshvili
20. Merab Doborjginidze
21. Natia Gorgiladze
22. Natia Pitskhelauri
23. Natia Sagrishvili
24. Nino Atabegashvili
25. Nino Berishvili
26. Nino Lezhava
27. Nino Shalamberidze
28. Nino Sulamanidze
29. Nino Valikovi
30. Sopo Rusetski
31. Tamar Gugutishvili
32. Tamar Oganova
33. Tamar Khokhobashvili
34. Tamta Papuashvili
35. Tamuna Abazadze
36. Tinatin Tinikashvili
37. Keti Khvedeliani
38. Natia Kemoklidze
39. Aldona Kachibaia
40. Tamta Alania
41. Nato Natsvaladze
The list of signatories has been updated on December 4.
