Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 31 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia /
Georgia should have indepent Justice Council that will be free from any influence, president of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio said at a press conference after a two-day visit to Georgia.
"This should be a self-governing body of the judiciary, and its members must also be independent, like himself, as the judge. I think that in the Council except judges should also be scientists, lawyers, members of the public and not a lot of politicians and officials," he said.
Buquicchio said that Council members should be elected by secret ballot, and judges should not be withdrawn as long as the credentials are not complete. "They may be prematurely withdrawn from the Council only if their qualifications and the purpose of election will be called into question," he said.
The head of the VC said that the Georgian government should form the procedures that will determine the questions of attribution and the status of political prisoners for their release. He called decision on amnesty "political".
Buquicchio believes that the new Georgian authorities have given a lot of promises, and therefore the amnesty was a "gesture of the promises." "In many countries, of course, after the election, such amnesties adopted, but they didn't involve serious crimes," he said.
Referring to the release of the so-called political prisoners, Buquicchio noted that in this respect there is no qualification. "So, next week experts will arrive in Georgia to help identify this moment," he said.
On the issue of reforming the court, Buquicchio noted that in a week, coming in February working group committee, which will discuss the moments of the reform.
"The Venice Commission is interested in the reform of the court, a new initiative of the jury," he said.