It is with enormous respect that I wish a happy professional holiday to every judge in service to justice and ensuring the protection of human rights and freedoms, writes the Prime Minister of Georgia.

"Justice and the rule of law are the cornerstone of our society, and the country`s democratic development is unimaginable without a strong and independent court system.

Our Government has taken major steps toward empowering the judiciary.

Judicial independence and accountability to the public have grown, and the quality of justice is up. Consequently, today`s judiciary drastically differs from the situation found under the previous regime, with the right to a fair trial becoming an effectively accessible good to citizens.

Along with systemic reforms, this progress is also credited to all principled, fair, highly qualified, and independent judge making decisions in a pressure-free environment on a daily basis.

Judges are the linchpin and support buttressing judicial independence. Your everyday activities and each fair decision underpin the trust necessary for the existence of a healthy constitutional state. I am confident that, through your efforts, our judiciary will grow even stronger.

I thank you for your professionalism and patriotism, and I wish you success in your responsible work", - writes Irakli Kobakhidze.