Disputes with the EU persist
Referring to amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzel said, "Georgia continues to make significant legislative changes through accelerated parliamentary procedures, without the necessary local or international consultations and proper analysis of their compliance with European standards."
The European Union urges the government of Georgia to uphold its responsibilities to safeguard the human rights and basic liberties of its citizens. The Ambassador is concerned that the present revisions restrict the inviolability of the privacy of Georgian people without providing enough protection against unwarranted intrusions into their privacy and the security of their personal data.
"Yesterday, the Georgian Parliament voted revisions to the Georgian Criminal Procedure Code that will increase the number of breaches for which covert investigative measures will be permitted, as well as the duration of these actions.” “While security amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code may be justifiable, we observe with worry that the existing amendments drastically limit the privacy of Georgian residents without justification and without adequate protections for personal data," Hartzel stated.