Georgian Foreign Minister denounces politicisation of legal matters by foreign partners

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Tuesday criticised the politicisation of legal matters by foreign partners, calling it an unacceptable interference in the country’s internal affairs and judiciary.

Speaking to journalists regarding the issue of bail payments for opposition figures Nika Gvaramia and Nika Melia, Botchorishvili responded to media inquiries about whether international partners had called on the two to pay bail.

“I can't say whether such calls have been made. But in general, we often witness that matters related to justice and the rule of law are turned into subjects of political speculation. Frequently, legal issues are politicised by foreign partners. This constitutes open interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state, particularly in the justice system, and it is absolutely unacceptable anywhere”, the FM said.

Botchorishvili emphasised that Georgia, as a sovereign country, was carrying out its judiciary through the relevant state institutions and authorities.

“There are internationally recognised procedures that allow anyone who disagrees with a decision to challenge it. Over the years, we have also seen that decisions made by the Georgian judiciary have been upheld in the international arena, and there have been no legal issues with those decisions. Therefore, we can conclude that such statements and interference in domestic matters serve to politicise legal issues”, she concluded.