Amnesty International welcomes Georgia’s acceptance of a recommendation to establish an independent and impartial institution to investigate and prosecute human rights abuses and violations committed by law enforcement and security forces, as the current practice appears to lack independence and impartiality. According to the Public Defender’s Office and local watchdogs, flawed investigations into allegations of torture and ill-treatment in prisons and by the police remain a major shortcoming in the legal system in Georgia.
While Amnesty International is pleased to note that Georgia accepted recommendations to implement international fair trial standards and to limit the application and length of pre-trial detention, the organization remains concerned at reports of political interference in the judiciary, including arrest of opposition party members in the lead up to elections and politically motivated prosecutions.