Georgian president proposes probing judges designated by U.S. for sanctions

TBILISI. April 7 (Interfax) - Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has supported the idea of reforming the judiciary and proposed starting a probe of Georgian judges whom the United States has designated for sanctions.

"I am worried that the U.S. decision on four Georgian judges might be perceived in Europe as a negative message while we're expecting to be granted EU candidate country status, and therefore, the improvement of the country's image depends on all of us," Zourabichvili said at a press briefing on Friday.

In the wake of the U.S. decision, Georgia should undertake some tangible measures, she said.

"Perhaps an investigation should be started into the activities of those judges, and perhaps the composition of the High Council of Justice should be reviewed. This issue should not prompt deeper polarization both inside the country and in relations with our partners," Zourabichvili said.

"Even though the U.S. has designated four Georgian judges for visa restrictions, this still damages our country's reputation. The Georgian people know well that those very judges played a role in setting up a flawed judicial system. Our public is also perfectly aware of what should have been done for reforming this system and what has not been done," she said.

She said she completely supported the idea of reforming the Georgian judicial system and making it more independent.

On April 5, the U.S. embassy to Georgia circulated Secretary of State Antony Blinken's statement on imposing sanctions on four high-ranking Georgian judges, namely Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze, "due to their involvement in significant corruption."

Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the Georgian Dream ruling party, said earlier on Friday he viewed Blinken's statement on sanctions against the four Georgian judges as unwarranted.

"Four of our judges have been accused of corruption in a completely groundless manner, without any proof. If these judges violated the law, why is it being concealed not only from the Georgian authorities but also from the Georgian people?" Kobakhidze told journalists.

What stands behind Blinken's statement "is the political interest in interfering with Georgia's independent court," he said.