The Legal Issues Committee considered, under an expedited procedure and at It reading, the draft Law on the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia and endorsed the proposed changes.

The draft law was presented by the First Deputy Chair of the Legal Issues Committee, Tornike Cheishvili.

The proposed amendments clarify the eligibility requirements for employment within the Investigation Service. Under the draft law, a citizen of Georgia who is legally competent, at least 18 years of age (instead of 21), and no older than 40 years of age (instead of 35), may be recruited to the Service, provided that he or she meets the special qualification requirements established by law and by an order of the Minister of Finance.

In addition, the bill establishes mandatory retirement ages for employees holding special state ranks, differentiated according to position categories.

Specifically, the retirement age will be set at 60 for employees holding junior and intermediate special state ranks, and at 65 for those holding senior and highest special state ranks. The amendments also provide that, where justified by service interests and subject to the fulfilment of relevant conditions, employment may be extended beyond the retirement age for a period of up to five additional years.