About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
President on Differences over Delay of New Rule of Witness Questioning
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 31 Jan.'14 / 14:03

President Giorgi Margvelashvili confirmed that there were differences between him and some other Georgian Dream ruling coalition members over the government-proposed bill postponing once again introduction of a new rule replacing current practice of compelled witness statements with questioning of witnesses only before court.

The proposal postponing introduction of the new rule for two years, till December 31 2015, which was condemned by rights groups, was passed by the Parliament in late December.

“I was of a different opinion and I was even considering more active interference in this process,” Margvelashvili said in an interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster on January 29.
 
He did not elaborate, and was not asked either, what “active interference” implied, but there were rumors that the President was considering vetoing the bill, causing friction between him and the government.

Margvelashvili said that postponement in itself is not a problem, because introduction of high standards requires proper preparation in order to be technically ready for putting the rule in practice, but he added that there should be a clear action plan on how the authorities are preparing.

“Postponement for a reasonable timeframe is acceptable, but while postponing we should have a clear vision about what has to be done in this period before [the new rule] is introduced. The parliament speaker [Davit Usupashvili] said that such vision will be tabled soon and we are looking forward to it,” President Margvelashvili said.

He said that the issue was also discussed when he met representatives from several civil society organizations on January 23.

The President, whose powers were significantly cut under the new constitution at the expense of increasing Prime Minister’s authority, is expected to appear before the Parliament early next month to deliver his first annual address. Parliament speaker, Davit Usupashvili, said that the address is likely to take place next week, but an exact date has yet to be set.

Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
10