Georgiy Tugushi elected new Georgian Ombudsman

Today, at the extraordinary session of the Parliament of Georgia, the deputies have elected Georgiy Tugushi, 32, to be Georgia's new 'national defender' (Ombudsman); he is also a member of the Committee of the European Union against Violence and has worked for five years in the Ombudsman's office. 88 MPs voted for him, and 8 - against.

We remind you that Mr Tugushi was nominated on July 28 by the party of the parliamentary majority "United National Movement for Prospering Georgia".

In the course of today's voting at the parliament, Tugushi's competitor Dmitry Lortkipanidze has won 14 votes only, as reported by the "News-Georgia" Agency.

The "GHN" Agency adds that prior to voting the candidates for the position of Georgia's Ombudsman answered the MPs' questions.

When asked to assess the events on November 7, 2007, when a rally of the opposition was violently dispersed, and the police used illegal weapons, Georgiy Tugushi has noted that the authorities behaved with excessive use of force. However, at the same time he has added that the definition of whether the fact of use of illegal weapons is penal is beyond the Ombudsman's competence. According to Mr Tugushi, the 'national defender' should react to results.

Along with that, while answering deputies' questions, he has noted that any pressure on journalists is absolutely inadmissible. "Pressure on journalists is inadmissible both by the authorities and by the opposition. I hope that such facts will never appear, otherwise, the Ombudsman will have to react toughly," Mr Tugushi has noted.

Let us note here that the election of the Ombudsman was ignored by MP Dzhondi Bagaturiya, who left the session of parliament in protest and explained that his motive was the intention of the parliament to elect a candidate presented by his partisan adherence, and not the one previously coordinated with the broad public.

Georgiy Tugushi will start his work as Ombudsman on September 16, upon expiry of the term in office of the present Ombudsman Sozar Subari.