(Read full article on agenda.ge)

Several NGOs have released a statement earlier today calling on Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to veto a law adopted by the parliament on December 30 which replaces the State Inspector’s Service with two new agencies.

The Georgian government adopted the bill replacing the State Inspector’s Service, which investigated alleged offences committed by state officials and law enforcement agencies, with the Special Investigation and Personal Data Protection services on December 30, despite the calls of foreign diplomats, NGOs and the opposition to pause the process.

The statement reads that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party ‘made an unconstitutional decision extremely damaging to Georgian democracy.’

NGOs have welcomed Zurabishvili’s assessment regarding the amendments, calling on her to ‘exercise her constitutional authority and veto the recent legislative changes.’