Saakashvili Calls for ‘Fair’ Judicial System, as New Chairman of Supreme Court Takes Office

President Saakashvili said on September 9, that corruption in Georgia’s judicial system hampers country’s development and attraction of foreign investments. He also said that reforms should be carried out to improve the Georgian courts.

Mikheil Saakashvili was addressing the judges of Georgian Supreme Court in Tbilisi, after Kote Kemularia, the new Chairman of Supreme Court officially took an office on September 9 after the oath taking ceremony, which was also attended by Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze.

Kote Kemularia, a lawyer, had served as Georgia’s Ambassador in Russia since February 2004. Before the diplomatic mission he was a co-chairman of President Saakashvili’s National Movement party and a Member of Parliament. 

President Saakashvili told the judges of the Supreme Court that eradication of corruption in the judicial system should be a top priority.

“Nobody wants to have business in Georgia, because many Georgian judges take bribes,” Saakashvili said.

“Our supreme goal is to develop economy and strengthen the country, as a whole. And the judicial system should play an important role in this. Nobody will express willingness to invest money in Georgia, until we do not have an independent and fair judicial system,” Saakashvili said.

“Recently one of the judges of the Batumi court was arrested for taking bribe – USD 3,000. There are many other judges, who take much more [bribe]. This [arrest of judge] was the first case in the history of independent Georgia. But I guess it will not be the last… [Law enforcers] are very watchful,” the Georgian President said. 

He also added, that many “honest judges also work at the Georgian courts, who will do their best to perfect the judicial system.”

He called for further reforms in the judicial system. “It is of vital importance to avoid dragging out processes in the courts,” he said.

“We do not need a judge for whom my word will be more important rather than the law,” Saakashvili also said. 

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)