"I do not think this is a step backwards. When we talk about hastiness, it would be probably better to talk about quality as well," Mikheil Sarjveladze, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, told reporters in response to the statement made by EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell, who assessed the appointment of two judges as hasty, non-transparent and non-competitive.

Sarjveladze thinks that the speed and quality of transparency should not deserve criticism.

"The independence of the judiciary is one of the principles, the supremacy of which is very important in the construction of a modern state. Independence implies that the composition of the Council of Justice should be based on self-governance. Therefore, it would be better for politicians to refrain from commenting on these issues. It is very important that the political authorities do not interfere in any case in resolving issues that are entirely and exclusively a matter of the judiciary. It is not worth evaluating it either positively or negatively, therefore, I would call all political actors to do the same. I do not think this is a step backwards. When we are talking about hastiness, it would be probably better to talk about quality as well. Right decisions can be made quickly, but most importantly, when talking about this particular issue, we do not have the right to assess the choice. This is the exclusive competence of the judiciary.

I do not think that quality deserves criticism in terms of transparency or speed. I understand that the embassy makes these statements, but you cannot take away my right to answer you, tell you my opinion, and if you think that we have to be silent when the EU says something, I cannot agree with it," Sarjveladze said.

source: IPN