6 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The US State Department has sanctioned four Georgia judges for “engaging in significant corruption,” barring them and their immediate family members from entering US territory.
In a statement, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated that “these individuals have abused their positions as heads and members of the High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the faith of the people in the Georgian judicial system. “.
The State Department statement indicates that there is no time limit for this ban on entry into the country, and identifies the sanctioned judges as Mijail Chinchaladze, Levan Murusize, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsaze.
Following the announcement, the United States ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, has confirmed the sanction measures, stating that they have been imposed to seek the country’s rapprochement with the European Union and the United States.
A week ago, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, announced the opening of an anti-corruption office following the request of the European Union following the country’s request to join the community bloc.
The Georgian president assured that with this inauguration the Government seeks to “strengthen the anti-corruption mechanism” of the country as it addresses the list of recommendations made by the EU so that Georgia meets the European standards necessary for its accession.
