GYLA Warns of Political Influence Over Legal Aid Changes
By Messenger Staff
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) has issued a critical assessment of proposed amendments to the Law of Georgia 'On Legal Aid'. The bill, which passed its second reading in Parliament on February 18, seeks to move the Legal Aid Service from parliamentary oversight to the direct control of the Prime Minister.
According to GYLA, these changes significantly damage the institutional independence of the service and increase the risk of political influence. The organization argues that under the new structure, legal aid would be placed under government control with only limited internal autonomy.
Under current law, the Legal Aid Service is an independent entity that is not subordinated to any state body and remains accountable only to Parliament. The proposed bill changes this structure fundamentally. The Director of the Service would submit annual reports to the Prime Minister instead of Parliament, and the Prime Minister would gain the personal authority to appoint and dismiss the Director. Additionally, the Prime Minister would unilaterally approve the organization's operational strategy.
"The proposed changes significantly damage the institutional independence of the Legal Aid Service and increase the risk of political influence on it," the GYLA statement reads. The group noted that the bill threatens the ability to provide impartial legal aid and contradicts the professional freedom of lawyers.
A primary concern raised by legal experts is the potential for a conflict of interest. Because legal aid often involves citizens in disputes against state institutions, GYLA argues that placing both sides of the dispute under the executive branch undermines the protection of the individual.
"Subordinating the Legal Aid Service to the executive branch contradicts the general logic of legal aid and the principles of exercising the right to defense," the statement says.
The bill also proposes a restructuring of the Legal Aid Council, reducing its membership from nine to seven. The new council would be composed of the Chairpersons of the Parliament's Legal Issues and Human Rights Committees, the Secretary of the High Council of Justice, the Prosecutor General, the Head of the Government Administration, the Public Defender, and the Chairperson of the Bar Association.
GYLA warned that granting the authority to determine aid criteria to a director appointed by the Prime Minister could become a "mechanism of political control." They noted that these changes come at a time when civil society organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to provide free legal services due to what they described as a repressive legislative climate.
"With the proposed changes, weakening the institutional guarantees of the Service affects citizens' right to independent and quality legal services, especially when, in conditions of a repressive legislative climate, civil society organizations are increasingly unable to provide free legal aid to citizens with limited resources," the GYLA statement notes.
