"Rustavi 2" case was included in report of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

"Rustavi 2" case was included in report of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. Court proceedings against the station has caused a lot of criticism by Commissioner Muiznieks,. The report said that the attempts to interfere into editorial policy and to change the management change were negatively assessed by most of actors.

“Judicial reforms have yielded some positive results in Georgia, in particular as concerns the reduced influence of the prosecutorial authorities, the increased transparency in the work of the High Council of Justice and an improved juvenile justice system. However, long-standing structural problems still require serious attention, particularly with a view to upholding the independence and effective functioning of the judiciary”- said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his observations addressed to the Prime Minister of Georgia following a visit to the country.
The Commissioner is concerned about allegations of politically-motivated measures targeting members of the opposition, especially with regard to the use of pre-trial detention measures against them. Moreover, despite some improvements in the selection, appointment and dismissal procedures of the Chief Prosecutor, issues remain related to the work of this key institution in the field of criminal justice. “Resolute efforts are called for to increase the impartiality and accountability of the work of prosecutors and law enforcement officials.”

The minority demands to respond to the problems indicated in the report, while the governing coalition claims that there are no question marks on the facts mentioned in the document.

Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner prepared a 6-page report after a visit to Georgia in November 2015.