Georgian PM proposes U.S. senators to come to Georgia, to make sure prosecutor's office, court objective
TBILISI. Aug 12 (Interfax) - Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said he disagreed with the opinion of some U.S. senators, who have expressed concern about charges of abuse of office brought regarding former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, and senators are welcome to come to Georgia and to study case proceedings in person.
"I understand and share the concerns that these charges could be perceived as political prosecutions and this could affect the domestic political stability and foreign relations," Garibashvili said in his letter to senators released by his press office on August 11.
Today's court system of Georgia differs drastically from the one, which existed during the previous authorities, the prime minister said.
"We have eliminated the system of procedural agreements based on extortion and eliminated torture in prisons. Today judges are independent, the prosecutor's office does not depend on the government, and defendants received many new rights," Garibashvili said.
"I have said publicly myself that if some day, while in office, I violate the law, I am ready to go to prison," the prime minister said.
U.S. senators should "watch closely trials and come to Georgia in order to study proceedings in person," Garibashvili said.
In Georgia "no one should be above the law and Georgia's court system will not turn into a defender of interests of a small group of people," the prime minister said.
