New Chairman of Supreme Court Approved

The Parliament, on June 25, approved the nomination of Kote Kemularia as Chairman of the Supreme Court with a 176 to 1 vote, allowing Mr. Kemularia to begin his ten year term.

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. He was also involved in the Georgian Justice Minister’s office in the early 90s.

On June 24 Kemularia announced that he will quit his post in Saakashvili?s party after the opposition New Rights parliamentary faction expressed doubts that Kemularia would be ?impartial.?