Georgian NGOs demand resignation of Minister of Justice

On 1 December 2017, two 16-year-olds, Levan Dadunashvili and David Saralidze, died from severe knife wounds during a fight with their peers. The crime was committed in broad daylight on Khorava Street with multiple witnesses present. Two boys were arrested on charges of murder. The first was charged for the murder of Levan Dadunashvili, while the second was charged with attempted murder. However, neither of the two were charged for Saralidze’s death. This decision confirmed the suspicions of David Saralidze’s father, Zaza, who over the course of several months tried to prove that the real murderers of his son were still at large and that the prosecutor’s office was not doing anything to apprehend them.

Thereafter, demonstrations began on 31 May in Tbilisi. After a three-day protest, the head prosecutor of the country was forced to resign while the PM, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, was prevented from addressing the protestors and pelted with bottles instead.

The authorities claim that the process of appointing a new head prosecutor will be done in a transparent manner, and that public consultations will be held on the issue. The Minister of Justice, Tea Tsulukiani, asked NGOs and public organisations on 4 June to participate in the consultations. Tsulukiani sent out letters to several dozen organisations and called on them to join in the process.

However, the NGO sector and the opposition do not believe in the promises made by Tsulukiani. They have refused to participate in the consultations until Tsulukiani resigns from the position of Minister of Justice. More than a dozen NGOs have released a joint statement to PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili demanding Tsulukiani’s resignation.

At a press conference which took place in the offices of the ‘Open Society – Georgia’ NGO, the NGO heads stated that Tsulukiani was unable to deal with the reforms of her sector and that over the period of her tenure, five head prosecutors have come and gone.

“This person will not work to find a truly, worthy and independent head prosecutor. For that reason, we will not participate in the consultations with her,” said Eka Gigauri, the head of Open Society – Georgia.

Gigauri says that if the state is interested in resolving the current crisis and in carrying out real changes, they must change the minister of justice and provide transparency in the process of putting forward a candidate for head prosecutor.