Lawyers against Closed Adjara Prosecutor’s Office

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

Batumi based lawyers held protest demonstration against Adjara prosecutor’s office. They protested closed institution of the prosecutor’s office and restriction of their rights.

Lela Bzhalava, lawyer: “Prosecutor’s office shall not be closed institution for the lawyers working on the criminal law. I, as a representative of the Georgian Bar Association, joined the protest of my colleagues.”

Edisher Makharadze, lawyer: “Lawyers’ corpse is not satisfied with the criminal law policy of the prosecutor’s office. We believe they deceived us with good promises. Prosecutor Shota Tkeshelashvili at the Adjara Prosecutor’s Office turned this institution into a closed office. There is the same situation, as it was during Zurab Adeishvili’s being on the position of the minister of justice.”

New prosecutor was appointed in Adjara last November. Shota Tkeshelashvili abolished reception day in the prosecutor’s office several days after appointment. Since then, he has not met lawyers and citizens, though it is his obligation under the law. Order # 51 of the Minister of Justice of Georgia, issued on August 26, 2013, which is decree for the Adjara Prosecutor’s Office, states: “Adjara prosecutor studies letters, applications and complaints of physical and legal persons, and meets citizens.” Consequently, before the new prosecutor was appointed, his predecessor used to receive citizens on Friday every week.

Nobody responded to the lawyers’ protest from the Prosecutor’s Office. Lawyers intend to request impeachment of Tkeshelashvili unless the problem is resolved.