Strasbourg rulings highlight successful reforms implemented by the Georgian authorities in the justice system since 2012. Such a statement made today the Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili.

“The rulings concern 3 complaints in which applicants contested that one of the Supreme Court judges hearing their cases was neither impartial nor independent. However, the European Court fully endorsed the evidence and arguments presented by the Ministry of Justice and declared all 3 complaints inadmissible.

The European Court of Human Rights [ECHR] drew attention to such matters as the life tenure of judges, the institutional and functional strengthening of the High Council of Justice, refinement of procedures for judicial appointment and promotion, and the constitutional amendment which made the process for appointing Supreme Court judges more transparent and modern.

One of the complaints, ‘Pirtskhalava vs Georgia’, concerned a case well known to the public, the murder of Buta Robakidze. In this case, the applicant contested that the criminal proceedings against him were unjust, as he was not allowed to question witnesses.

However, on this matter too, the ECHR fully upheld the Ministry of Justice’s position and concluded that this claim was so ill-founded that it did not even merit substantive examination”, - said Beka Dzamashvili.

The ECHR has declared inadmissible complaints regarding the independence and impartiality of judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia.