The Working Group at the Legal Issues Committee working on the anti-corruption measures within the 12 recommendations set out by the EU held a meeting.

According to the Chair of the Committee and the Head of the Group, Anri Okhanashvili, the Group discussed the extent that the set-up of the Anti-Corruption Agency is envisaged in the 12-point plan.

“We intend to hear the positions by the civil society, namely, IDFI. They offer the set-up of the Agency as preferable within the 12-point plan regardless of its composition and the quorum for the election of its Chief. Some opposition MPs expressed their dissent that the Agency shall be necessarily set up, a priori implying that its Chief shall be elected by 2/3; otherwise, this idea has no sense. We echoed that the 12-point plan lacks the record that a new agency shall a priori be set up and especially that its Chief shall be elected by 2/3, and we heard no counter-argument since if such an idea was included in the 12-point plan, it would also provide that its Chief should be elected by 90 or 100 votes”, - A. Okhanashvili noted.

According to him, it was as well outlined that the coordination between the agencies constitutes yet another challenge in countering corruption; the agencies need effective coordination and orientation on prevention, as well as the revision of certain components of the criminal law and the sanctions in this process as one of the keys leverages.

“In this regard, we appealed to certain agencies to submit their positions concerning the challenges. We, the “Georgian Dream” team will also reveal our vision. In total, two directions are outlined – set-up of the Agency, and intensification of coordination in countering and preventing corruption, as well as the development of the legal changes in view of the legal response. We intend to further discuss these two models and ultimately, reconcile our positions and opt on either of them”, - A. Okhanashvili added.

The Working Group is composed of MPs from the Faction “Georgian Dream” and certain opposition MPs, as well as the representatives of the Governmental Administration, Prosecutor’s Office, State Security Service, Justice Ministry; State Audit Service, and civil society (National Platform of Georgia of the EaP Civil Society Forum).

The Group is monitored by the officers of the Presidential Administration. As the plan stipulates, the Bill shall be initiated no later than October 19, 2022, and adopted no later than December 1, 2022.