Politicians on Irakli Shotadze Regaining Chief Prosecutor Post

On February 18, the Parliament of Georgia has confirmed penultimate Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze to take back the post that triggered mixed reactions from ruling party and opposition politicians.

Civil.ge offers a compilation of these assessments.

Ruling party assessments

Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister: “Irakli Shotadze is a dignified professional, who is able to make difficult decisions as well as to assume responsibilities.”

Archil Talakvadze, Parliament Speaker: “Under Irakli Shotadze’s tenure, the prosecutor’s office was one of the most effective agencies… He really has an experience in management, he is one of the [most] professional prosecutors… As far as his resignation is concerned, he took a worthy decision and showed the entire public that not his position, but rather his moral principles and accountability to the public are what truly matter to him.”   

Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the parliamentary majority: “Irakli Shotadze is a person, who quit the post immediately after [a single] question was raised. He is a worthy person and real professional.”

Gia Volski, First Vice Speaker of the Parliament: “The main question is that the Prosecutor’s Office should work for the public and I am sure that the Prosecutor General will ensure it.”  

Opposition’s assessments

MP Tina Bokuchava, the United National Movement: “[Shotadze] a slave among the slaves, understands very well, why Ivanishvili has selected him; because he will have to put his signature under all dirty cases, when Ivanishvili will use the Prosecutor’s Office as a tool of political persecution ahead of elections, the elections, where he will participate without any public support, thinking that by arresting and intimidating political opponents, exerting pressure on and bribing the media, he will manage to avoid an irreversible failure that expects him during the polls. That is why Shotadze was appointed to this position.”

MP Giorgi Kandelaki, European Georgia: “Naming Irakli Shotadze was an insulting step on the part of Ivanishvili and what happened now is disrespect towards the Parliament.”  

Independent lawmakers’ Assessments

MP Levan Koberidze: “The faction of Independent Lawmakers distance themselves from the process of reelecting Irakli Shotadze as the chief prosecutor… Irakli Shotadze will be the Prosecutor General who will a priori promote political [interests] and pressure in Georgia ahead of elections.”  

MP Levan Gogichaishvili: “All of the important decisions are agreed [with Bidzina Ivanishvili]… These members of Georgian Dream would not have elected Shotadze, if it had not been Ivanishvili’s demand to return him to the post.”  

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