Prosecutor’s Office Asks Constitutional Court Chair to Provide Details of Alleged Pressure

Chief Prosecutor’s Office said it has notified chairman of the Constitutional Court, Giorgi Papuashvili, to arrive at prosecutor’s office “at any time convenient for him” to provide details of alleged pressure on members of the Constitutional Court.

“The prosecutor’s office will take relevant legal actions if Giorgi Papuashvili provides detailed information,” it said.

Papuashvili said on July 21 that that some of the judges of the 9-member Court are being “pressured” and “blackmailed” to either rule in favor of the authorities or drag out verdicts in several high-profile cases that are now under consideration in the Court. He declined to specify the cases in question, but among the high-profile cases, which are now in the Court, are several complaints filed by Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 TV, stemming from ongoing dispute over the ownership of this opposition-minded private broadcaster.

Papuashvili also refused to speak publicly about the details of the allegation, but said that he was ready to discuss it with country’s political leadership.

PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili told journalists on July 21, that he spoke via phone with Papuashvili, as well as with chief prosecutor Irakli Shotadze shortly after the allegation was leveled.

“I offered him [Papuashvili] to provide as soon as possible all the information available for him to the prosecutor’s office. I also spoke with the chief prosecutor and they are ready to take testimony. It will be good if everyone having complaints appeals to the prosecutor’s office,” the PM said.

President Giorgi Margvelashvili also spoke via phone with Papuashvili after the latter leveled the allegation.

“We should pay heed to any allegation involving pressure on the Constitutional Court,” Anna Dolidze, president’s parliamentary secretary, said, adding that the President will meet the Constitutional Court chair in coming days.

Constitutional Court said in a statement later on July 21 that Papuashvili is ready to meet the chief prosecutor after meeting with and informing about the details of his allegation the President and the PM in person.

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