History of the prosecution
1918
1991
1992
1995
2008
2018
Heads of the Prosecution Service of Georgia
In 1918, shortly after the restoration of statehood, the first structural units of the Georgian prosecution service were established within the court system. Following the occupation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by Russia in 1921, the prosecution service of independent Georgia ceased to exist.
After the restoration of Georgia's independence, the Prosecutor General of Georgia exercised supreme supervision over the accurate and uniform enforcement of laws on the territory of Georgia
The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Georgia was appointed by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia. During this period, the prosecution service remained a Soviet-type agency, as no republican legislative acts had been adopted and the competence, structure and rules of operation of the prosecution service were regulated by the legislation of the USSR.
On 11 June 1992, the State Council of the Republic of Georgia approved the "Interim Regulations of the Prosecution Service of the Republic of Georgia", which defined the status of the prosecution service
The Prosecution Service of Georgia was a single, centralized, independent body headed by the Prosecutor General appointed by the State Council; the Prosecutor General was accountable to the State Council
Under the Constitution adopted on 24 August 1995 and the Organic Law of Georgia "On the Prosecution Service" adopted on 21 November 1997, the Prosecution Service of Georgia was an institution of the judiciary
The Prosecution Service of Georgia conducted criminal prosecution, supervised investigations, enforced sentences and supported state prosecution. The Parliament appointed the Prosecutor General for a term of five years upon nomination by the President of Georgia, by a majority of the full membership. Subordinate prosecutors were appointed by the Prosecutor General. The collegium of the Office of the Prosecutor General served as the advisory body of the Prosecutor General.
The prosecution system of Georgia included:
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia, the Main Military Prosecution Office of Georgia, the Transport Prosecution Office of Georgia, the prosecution offices of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara, the Tbilisi Prosecution Office, regional prosecution offices, regional military and transport prosecution offices, district (city) prosecution offices and prosecution offices at penitentiary institutions. The prosecution system functioned in this form until 2004. As a result of changes and reorganization carried out in 2004, the military, transport, penitentiary and city prosecution offices were abolished.
From 10 November 2008, under the new Law of Georgia "On the Prosecution Service", the Prosecution Service of Georgia became part of the system of the Ministry of Justice as a state sub-agency
The Minister of Justice exercised general leadership over the prosecution system. The Main Prosecution Office was headed by the Chief Prosecutor, who in 2008–2013 was appointed and dismissed from office by the President of Georgia upon nomination by the Minister of Justice. The prosecution system comprised the Main Prosecution Office, the prosecution offices of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara, the Tbilisi Prosecution Office, regional prosecution offices and district prosecution offices.
Transformation into the Office of the Prosecutor General
In 2018, the independence of the prosecution service was recognized by the supreme law of the country – the Constitution. As a result, it was separated from the Ministry of Justice and became a fully independent agency. The name of the agency – Main Prosecution Office – was changed to the Office of the Prosecutor General; the position of Chief Prosecutor was replaced by Prosecutor General. Legislative changes also affected the Prosecutorial Council, whose main function is to ensure the independence, transparency and effectiveness of the prosecution service. The chair of the Prosecutorial Council is elected by the members of the Council themselves. The Prosecutorial Council conducts consultations, selects a candidate for the office of Prosecutor General and submits the candidate to the Parliament of Georgia for approval. The Prosecutorial Council hears reports on the activities of the prosecution service and issues relevant recommendations. As a result of legislative changes, the powers and duties of the Prosecutor General were expanded. The Prosecutor General is responsible for the full management of the prosecution system; is the chief prosecutor in criminal cases; and is accountable to the Parliament. Parliamentary oversight of the activities of the prosecution service was strengthened.
