Public Defender Requests Legislative Reinforcement of the Presumption of Innocence

Public Defender Giorgi Tugushi requests reinforcement of the presumption of innocence at the legislative level.

Giorgi Tugushi brought up the problem of protection of the presumption of innocence at the unified session of three Parliamentary Committees which during 4 hours discussed the 2011 Report by the Ombudsman; the issue was raised by the human rights defenders attending the session.

“Presumption of innocence is just mentioned in the Constitution, which is not enough.  It has to be protected by a separate legislative norm,” Tugushi said.

Pavle Kublashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Legal Issues, told media.ge when commenting on Giorgi Tugushi’s initiative that “attention must be paid” to Tugushi’s statement.

“We will wait for the Public Defender’s specific recommendations, discuss them and then will act accordingly,” Kublashvili stressed.

Government-associated TV-channels often announce suspects as guilty preliminarily, quoting the Interior Ministry provided footage and comments from the MIA officers. 

Media.ge