On Wednesday, February 10, an enlarged meeting of the Board of the RA General Prosecutor's Office took place. It was dedicated to the state of law and order in Abkhazia and the results of the work of the Prosecutor General's Office for 2020.

“This is the first time I have taken part in the work of the board of the General Prosecutor’s Office as President. From now on, I intend to take part in every meeting of the board, ” Bzhania said.

The head of state cited the words of Prosecutor General Adgur Agrba that the priority area of ​​the prosecutor's office in 2021 should be the fight against corruption, ” and noted that he agreed with this position.

At the same time, Bzhania pointed out the inadmissibility of repeating the same provisions and recommendations in the materials of Prosecutor General's Office meetings.

“I raised the materials of the panel held in January 2020 and then in July 2020. The documents are very similar, one might say word for word. I hope when you take stock of this panel, something different will be written there. Things of this kind will not be taken into account further, ” President warned.

Touching upon the topic of gaps in legislation, including those related to the fight against crime and corruption, President instructed General Prosecutor's Office to summarize all the accumulated experience and prepare drafts of the necessary changes in them. (According to the RA Constitution, the Prosecutor General has the right to initiate legislation - ed. AP)

“This work should take place under your control. There is no other department more important at this historical stage that could play a significant role in strengthening our state. You understand that by allowing someone to plunder the funds that we have, we are ruining our country. You are well aware of the scale of the damage inflicted on us. These figures have been voiced more than once, they suppress, and no one really sits in prisons. There are many reasons for this, including gaps in legislation. Who, if not you, should correct the situation? Who coordinates the activities of our law enforcement agencies? Who carries out oversight functions? You! I would not like your statement that you intend to continue to work to combat corruption to remain only a statement, a PR action. Work! Your materials must be sound, concrete. You must build effective relationships with the judicial community, ” Bzhania said.

President also drew the attention of employees of the Prosecutor General's Office to the applied measures of restraint.

“The prosecutor's office requests one measure of restraint, the court decides that the measure of restraint should be different. See if we need such a spread or not. You can change the measure of restraint in the form of house arrest for a pregnant woman, but the rest must be detained. Make changes to the Criminal Code, give us your suggestions. It will not work out any other way, ” the head of state believes.

Bzhania also recalled a package of bills on combating organized crime, which were sent to parliament by ex-President Raul Khazhimba.

According to President, an alternative sanction (from 8 to 15 years) against the organizers of criminal groups or leaders of the underworld is not justified.

“What is the need for an alternative sanction against ideologically resistant criminals? Why do we give our colleagues the opportunity to doubt the decision? The top is 15 years! Is it really necessary to take into account the age of the "thief in law"? The state is the law. No law, no state! But if the law does not work, if the offender does not receive the punishment he deserves, then the state is not seriously working on it and it may collapse, ” President said. Bzhania asked the prosecutors how long it would take them to prepare amendments to the existing laws, and a number of new bills.

“By April 1, it will be necessary to remove the gaps in the legislation concerning the entire spectrum of corruption-related crimes, especially in terms of spending budget funds, public money,” the head of state said.

At the end of his speech, President said: I see potential, I see a sufficient number of trained people. We must be imbued with the thought that we have a huge responsibility. "