Georgian opposition parties issued a letter on Monday, saying that an extraordinary Conference of Judges scheduled for May 26 to elect four judge-members of the High Council of Justice, should be canceled as it contradicts the April 19 Mediation Agreement.

The opposition believes the parliament should not elect the judges until it elaborates legislative amendments based on the agreement paper.

“Four judges should be elected in line with the new rules, developed as part of the reform. Reform must also precede the election of non-judicial members of the Council. For our part, we undertake that the Parliament should prioritize the issue related to the reform of the Council of Justice and initiate and adopt appropriate changes within a reasonable time so that the work of the institutions is not hindered; Other issues of justice under the agreement should be reformed in stages, no later than the spring session of 2022, as specified in the agreement,” the letter reads.

The letter is signed by the faction Lelo – Partnership for Georgia, Strategy Agmashenebeli, Khatuna Samnidze, Republic party, independent MP David Bakradze and Zurab Japaridze from Girchi-More Freedom.

Earlier this week, the EU and the US Ambassadors called on the parliament “to start inclusive discussions on the institutional reform of the High Council of Justice and, accordingly, to revise the rules for judicial appointments to courts, for handling disciplinary measures against judges, and to introduce transparent and comprehensive systems of appraisals, promotions, and transfers of judges and judicial staff in line with international standards and best practices. These discussions should include civil society, the Georgian Bar Association, the Public Defender, and the opposition.”

Georgian NGOs also urge Common Court judges to refrain from electing members of the High Council of Justice until a change in the rules of composition of the Council has taken place in such a way that ensures transparency and fairness of the process. They also call on the Parliament of Georgia to promptly adopt an amendment to the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts and temporarily suspend the election of judge-members.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava responded to Ambassadors on Sunday saying that when making the judiciary-related decisions, the Georgian parliament would act based on the Constitution, the legislation, the principle of independence of the judiciary, and the 19 April Mediation Agreement.