The official visit of the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia to the Constitutional Court
On Monday, 15 January, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, and the delegation headed by him visited the Constitutional Court in the framework to the official visit to Latvia. At the Constitutional Court, the delegation was welcomed by Ineta Ziemele, the President of the Constitutional Court, Artūrs Kučs, a Justice of the Constitutional Court, Laila Jurcēna, the Advisor to the President of the Constitutional Court, and Ketija Strazda, the Assistant to the President of the Constitutional Court.
The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze provided an insight to the representatives of the Latvian Constitutional Court into the constitutional order of Georgia and the constitutional reform that currently had to be implemented in the country. Information was provided on the functions of the Georgian Constitutional Court, lines of its activities, the importance of this Court in the Georgian system of courts was emphasised.
Inete Ziemele presented to the representatives of the delegation the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court and the model of constitutional review in Latvia. She told about the work of the Constitutional Court and highlighted a number of important judgements that the Constitutional Court passed last year. In addition to that, information was provided on the strictly defined methodology that is used in the judgements of the Constitutional Court and, for example, with respect to human rights issues, is based upon the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Ineta Ziemele informed the Georgian delegation also about the active involvement of the Latvian Constitutional Court in the judicial networks established by the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as participation in various fora of constitutional courts. She noted that a dialogue between constitutional courts was necessary, as it ensured effective exchange of information and presence in topical discussions on issues of constitutional law on an international scale.
During the conversation, Ineta Ziemele underscored the important role that the courts’ communication with society had; she outlined a number of concrete communication projects, which the Constitutional Court had initiated and implemented to inform and to educate society.
Ineta Ziemele noted that institutions and establishments belonging to all branches of power should through their activities facilitate communication with society, at the same time consolidating the fundamental values of a democratic state governed by the rule of law.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze noted that cooperation between the Constitutional Courts of both countries should be promoted, by sharing experience linked to issues of constitutional legal proceedings.
The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze was accompanied during the visit to the Constitutional Court by Tamar Khulordava, the Chairperson of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, a member of the Georgian-Latvian Parliamentary Cooperation Group, Ekka Beselia, the Chairperson of the Legal Committee, Akaki Zoidze, the Chairperson of the Health Care and Social Affairs Committee, a member of the Georgian-Latvian Parliamentary Cooperation Group, Vano Zardiashvili, the Vice-chairperson of the Legal Committee, a member of the Human Rights and Social Integration Committee, Beka Odisharia, the Chairperson of the Georgian-Latvian Parliamentary Cooperation Group, a member of the Regional Policy and Local Government Affairs Committee, and Ramaz Nikolaishvili, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, a member of the Georgian-Latvian Parliamentary Cooperation Group.
Coverage of the visit on the homepage of the Parliament of Georgia is available here [in English].
Video coverage of the visit is available on the homepage of the Parliament of Georgia: