The UK government has announced that it has imposed sanctions on judges Levan Murusidze and Mikheil Chinchaladze. The sanctions come as part of the UK’s broader efforts to combat global corruption. Levan Murusidze, Chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeal, and Mikheil Chinchaladze, a Member of the High Council of Justice of Georgia, are accused of abusing their judicial positions for personal gain.
The statement says there are reasonable grounds to suspect that both Chinchaladze and Murusidze have been involved in serious corruption.
“As Chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeal, a foreign public official performing an executive or judicial function, Levan Murusidze received a financial advantage as a reward for improperly performing his public functions, specifically improperly asserting his influence as chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals to ensure that judicial appointments and decisions favored the incumbent Georgian Dream Party,” reads the information.
Additionally, it states that as a Member of the High Council of Justice of Georgia, Murusidze again received financial rewards for improperly exerting his influence to ensure that judicial appointments and decisions favored the Georgian Dream Party.
The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations allow for the freezing of funds and economic resources of individuals involved in serious corruption.
This move comes at a time when Georgia’s judicial independence and integrity have been subjects of significant concern, with critics pointing to political interference in the judiciary as a challenge to democratic values.
