Zero evidence. No proof. Are they hiding it from us? Is a crime committed and they are hiding it from us? Or why are they hiding it from us? This is not serious, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of Georgian Dream, said in connection with the US designating four judges of Georgia "due to their involvement in significant corruption."
According to Kobakhidze, with this decision there is a political interest to intervene in the independent court.
He said there are "many topics", including what was being asked in the phone calls, so the ruling party chairman is urging everyone to follow the rules.
"Zero evidence. No proof. Are they hiding it from us? Is a crime committed and they are hiding it from us? Or why are they hiding it from us? This is not serious. If a crime has been committed, your first interest should be to inform the other party about this crime, or at least tell the public. Ok, you don't want the transparency of NGOs, but at least be transparent here and tell the public that such and such judges have committed crimes. Why don't you say it if you have proof? Where is the logic here? Of course, there is no logic here. There is a political interest in interfering with an independent judiciary.
We have other topics, I would recall many other topics... I don't want to talk about it today. The time may come in the future. We have many topics, including in phone conversations, what they asked us, etc. It's all there. That's why I want to call everyone to follow the rules and act according to the rules," said Kobakhidze.
According to him, if they want to condemn someone, they should start with the third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, and the former minister of justice, Zurab Adeishvili.
"We cannot allow a return to the situation in the judicial system that existed before 2012, when there were systemic problems in the court, when the court was used for repression, we cannot allow it. If anyone wants to sancton someone, they should start with Saakashvili, whose release they are actively demanding, and start with Adeishvili, who is walking freely in Europe. Start with these people and then talk to us. There is truth on our side, there is no truth on their side. Talk to us by the rules! This is our strict demand. We will not stand on one leg! We will stand on two legs, we will defend the sovereignty and we will defend the independence of our state. This is our firm position," Kobakhidze told Imedi TV.
For information, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has released a statement on public designations of Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze.
According to the statement, the U.S. Department of State is publicly designating Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze under Section 7031(c) visa restriction authorities, due to their involvement in significant corruption.
As Blinken explains in the statement, these individuals abused their positions as court Chairmen and members of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public’s faith in Georgia’s judicial system.
