Discussion of the legislative proposal on the amendments to the law of the Special Investigation Service has been launched

For the purpose of increasing the institutional and functional independence of the Special Investigation Service, discussion of the legislative proposal on the amendments to be made to the law of the service has been launched.

The Head of the Special Investigation Service, Koka Katsitadze, and his deputy, Natia Songhulashvili, together with the representatives of the Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, discussed the proposal submitted to the legislative body at the offsite meeting of the Parliament.

The meeting was chaired by the chairman of the committee, Anri Okhanashvili.

The head of the independent investigative authority, Koka Katsitadze, addressed the Parliament of Georgia with a specific proposal.

The issues submitted to the Parliament refer to the amendments to be made to the law on the Special Investigation Service. Amendments are aimed at increasing the institutional and functional independence of the Investigation Service. More precisely, the amendments refer to the right of unimpeded entry into the penitentiary establishment as well as the right of a person placed in a establishment to file a complaint with the Special Investigation Service without obstruction. The amendments also concern the issue of increasing the investigative powers provided for by the article 19 of the law on the Special Investigation Service, specifically, effective use of special protection measures and increasing the scope of investigation.

At the meeting, the issues of social and legal strengthening of the employees of the service were discussed in detail.

The importance of active cooperation with the Parliament of Georgia was also highlighted. Cooperation with the legislative body is important for the effective implementation of the objectives of the Special Investigation Service.

“The amendments to the law have the sole purpose of developing the service and increasing its independence, improving the legal status of the affected citizens and expanding the social guarantees of the employees”, said the head of the Special Investigation Service, Koka Katsitadze.

According to the legislative proposal, amendments should be made to the Law of Georgia on “Special Investigation Service”, “Imprisonment Code”, “law of Georgia on Public Service”, and law of Georgia “On Remuneration in Public Institutions”.

The working meeting was held at the initiative of the Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

Members of the Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia – representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutors Office, the Special Investigation Service and the representative of the academia field participated in the meeting.