Bar Association and Georgian NGOs protest against new system of interrogation

Georgian public organizations and the Bar Association have stood against the amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure of Georgia, involving the introduction of a new system of questioning. They believe that these amendments violate a number of procedural principles and will open room for torture.

On November 30, thirty NGOs-members of the coalition "For Fair and Transparent Justice", spoke against the amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, which introduce a new system of questioning witnesses, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The government has offered the parliament to amend Articles 101 and 114 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Georgia, which will entitle, in case of coming into force, the police and prosecutors with the right to summon witnesses for questioning to the district court, should the witness refuse to testify voluntarily.

Besides, the advocate now loses the right to examine witnesses; and the presence of an advocate during questioning of witnesses by the police and prosecutors in no longer mandatory.

The NGOs that have signed a statement of protest against the above amendments include such authoritative organizations like the "Article 42 of the Constitution", "Association of Young Lawyers", Human Rights Centre, the magazine "Liberal", the Union "21st Century", and the "Multinational Georgia".

"In fact, these amendments make it possible to torture witnesses," said Zaza Khatiashvili, the Chairman of the Bar Association of Georgia.

He added that the government of Georgia instead of the promised liberalization of the legislation is tightening it.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.