Merab Turava: A Consequential Removal from the Scientific Editorial Board

Representatives of the "Georgian Dream" often claim international legitimacy and view themselves as respectable legal experts with high international standing. Therefore, they place great importance on being present in international forums, as this allows them to present themselves in Georgia as legitimate experts.

Der Richter Merab Turava, Quelle: Wikimedia @NobodyUser

Merab Turava, the current Deputy Minister of Justice, was recently removed from the list of international editors of KriPoz (Journal of Criminal Policy). Turava’s removal from the editorial board was carried out without an official statement from the journal. Nevertheless, it sends a clear message.

Those who actively participate in repressive measures can no longer legitimize themselves through supposed academic credentials. Turava’s involvement with KriPoz and his removal send a crucial signal to many legal professionals in Georgia: They must choose between loyalty to the regime and future academic cooperation. Participation in the repressive actions of the Georgian government must exclude any form of scholarly recognition.

Absetzung von Merab Turava

Removal of Merab Turava

Merab Turava, who previously served for many years—controversially—as President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, is a prominent example. His removal and the decisive action taken by the editors of KriPoz, under the leadership of Professor Gunnar Duttge from the University of Göttingen, are to be welcomed. The specific reasons for this decision are not publicly known.

Following an inquiry by Tiflis24 staff to KriPoz in August 2025, which did not receive a clear response at the time, this important and necessary step now appears to have been taken—possibly also in response to the ongoing attacks on the rule of law in Georgia, which recently even led to the recall of the German ambassador to Berlin.

For Georgian legal professionals, Turava’s removal should be understood as a clear call to take a stand for law and justice, instead of siding with those undermining both.

In fact, this supposed legitimacy has been crumbling in recent months, even in circles where these actors had cultivated networks over many years.