The areal of the cases for consideration by the jury increases. The Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration considered with the first reading the legislative initiative of the Government, which implies Changes to the Criminal Code of Practice. Namely, the City Courts of Tbilisi and Kutaisi, from January 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014, with participation of jury, will consider event the events, attributed to their territories, when they concern criminal cases: “the high officials, indicated in the Article 2 of the Law On Incompatibility of Interests and Corruption in Public Service”, occupying the relevant position and the persons, accused of the joint offence with the above-mentioned persons. According to the Deputy-Minister of Justice, Alexander Baramidze, the questions and doubts concerning the cases of high officials, arrested during the previous Government, will be given the obvious and fair answers.

According to the members of United National Movement, they are not against expansion of the spheres of jury consideration, though due to the fact that the public opinion is formed and people are being “demonized” against their arrested mates, there may emerge some doubts about the jury, making the objective decisions. The minority introduced the alternative draft, implying inclusion of the Articles of the Criminal Code into the area of cases for consideration by jury, which concern deliberate murder, sexual abuse and immunity, robbery, burglary and domestic violence. The draft implies increase of territorial consideration, namely holding the trials in Batumi as well, also public hearings and examination of the witnesses with attendance of the judges. The Committee and the Deputy-Minister of Justice agreed with the public examination, proposed by minority. The Committee made the recommendation to move the term of enactment of this norm with three months forward. Taking these changes into account, the Committee, with majority of votes, supported submission of the draft to the plenary session.

The Committee also considered with the first reading the draft by Koba Davitashvili on changes to the Law on Prosecutor’s Office. According to the draft, the authorities of the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General will be separated. The important novelty is also that the Prosecutor General will lead the Prosecutor’s Office, who shall be appointed and dismissed, with the Agreement of the Government, by the Prime Minister. According to elucidation by the author, the changes condition the political neutrality of the Prosecutor’s Office and independence of capacity thereof.

The Committee supported submission of the draft to the plenary session.