Irakli Shotadze, the Prosecutor General of Georgia, on Thursday announced his resignation from the position, citing “recommendations by doctors” due to his “complicated health condition”, Agenda.ge reports.

Shotadze said he had submitted his resignation to the country’s Parliament and had been undergoing a treatment abroad for more than a week, adding “given the current situation” it was impossible for him to continue carrying out the duties.

“It is a great honour for me to serve my country, and I am proud of the contribution that we have made with my colleagues over the years to the reform and development of the Prosecutor's Office, in combating crime and changing the criminal justice policy”, he said.

“In terms of reforms, the strengthening of the institutional independence of the Prosecutor's Office is particularly noteworthy, as a result of which the Office was transformed from a sub-departmental institution of the country’s Ministry of Justice into an independent institution. The Prosecutor's Council was established, which selects the candidates for the position of the Prosecutor General, as well as convenes the report of its activities”, he added.

The official also highlighted reforms carried out in combating crime, specialisation of prosecutors and investigators, and noted the latter had become a “prerequisite for important success” in combating transnational crime, cybercrime, sexual violence against women, money laundering and organised crimes.

Shotadze noted the Office had scored “tangible results” in combating transnational crime, “as evidenced by a number of successful operations” carried out in the country’s capital Tbilisi in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation and EU countries, adding the efforts had “repeatedly become the subject of special mention and praise from Eurojust”.

He also extended his gratitude to employees of the Office for their “professionalism, daily dedication, determination and support”, and for achieving a “number of successful projects and recognition in the international arena”.