Inter-Fraction Group Discusses Administrative Lawsuit against District Governor

Nino Gvaridzishvili, Kakheti

Inter-fraction group established at the Sagarejo municipal board discussed administrative lawsuit filed against district governor Giorgi Loladze. The lawsuit was lodged by the fractions Support Bidzina Ivanishvili and Democrats. The group will either satisfy or decline the lawsuit in a few days.

On June 12, criminal prosecution was launched against Sagerejo district governor and four other senior officials for the abuse of power and misappropriation of 80 000 lari. On October 24, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office dropped the prosecution claiming although Giorgi Loladze committed criminal offense, “circumstances different from those observed during initial stage of the investigation were detected; thus there is no public legal interest to continue criminal prosecution against Loladze.” As soon as the criminal prosecution started against the district governor, his professional authority was suspended. 

After the criminal prosecution stopped, chairman of the municipal board restored Sagarejo district governor to the position based on the resolution # 197. It astonished part of the municipal board members. On November 29, fractions Support Bidzina Ivanishvili and Democrats filed administrative lawsuit against Giorgi Loladze at the municipal board. Representatives of the aforementioned fractions claim evident administrative law violation facts create serious doubts about legality of restoring Loladze to the position. Based on their petition, on December 3, the Inter-Fraction Group was set up to discuss Loladze’s case and study his activities as district governor. Deputy Chairman of the municipal board Paata Buzariashvili is chairing the group; its members are commission chairmen Niko Nakhutsrishvili, Vano Grdzelishvili and Vazha Bazerashvili.

First hearing of the case was held on December 26; representative of the district governor requested postpone of the discussion. The lawyer said she did not have reasonable time to study case materials and did not have information about it.

Giorgi Loladze did not attend the discussion at all. His lawyer Lela Maridashvili told humanrights.ge that district governor is on sick-leave because of health problems. “Plaintiff requested to discuss legality of Giorgi Loladze’s restoration to the position and his professional activities; however it is impossible to discuss two issues simultaneously. As for annulment of individual legal act, we think this solicitation lacks legal grounds and the Inter-Fraction Group will pass relevant decision.”