Financial Police to be Re-Established

The government has proposed to re-establish a semi-autonomous structure within the Financial Ministry to take “effective” measures against the economic crimes, according to the draft law submitted to the Parliament for consideration.

The new structure, under the name Investigative Service of the Finance Minister, will resemble the one, which existed at the ministry in 2004-2006 – Financial Police.

The Financial Police, which was opponents’ frequent target of criticism for its high-handed tactics, merged with the tax and customs departments of the Finance Ministry from January, 2007.

Like the Financial Police, the new unit will also be co-subordinated to the President, as the latter will have the right to appoint or dismiss head of the Investigative Service of the Finance Ministry upon Finance Minister’s recommendation, according to the draft law.

If approved, the law will make the new structure eligible to create a network of its undercover agents.

When President Saakashvili first announced about having plans to reform the Financial Police in August, 2006, he said the authorities’ attempts to “decriminalize financial relations” between the state and entrepreneurs was a major motive behind the initiative.

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