Buba Lomuashvili, alongside Deputy Minister of Justice of Lithuania, Rokas Uscila engaged in a discussion on various pioneering initiatives within Georgia's probation and crime prevention system.

Among the topics covered were Georgia's ground-breaking innovation, PROBBOX, aimed at enhancing probation processes. Additionally, Lomuashvili elaborated on the orientation course designed for probationers, the crime prevention curriculum tailored for educators, the efficient operations of the Juvenile Referral Center, ongoing reforms in restorative justice, as well as the introduction of new rehabilitation programs. Discussions also delved into matters concerning house arrest and community service.

The meeting was also attended by Head of the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-custodial Sentences and Probation, Lado Kheladze, and Head of the Probation Service of Lithuania, Romas Ostanavicius.

Furthermore, the delegation had the opportunity to explore the operational intricacies of PROBBOX during their visit to the Tbilisi Public Service Hall.

The Minister of Justice recently convened a working meeting at Kutaisi Public Service Hall, aiming to engage with the employees of various LEPLs under the Ministry of Justice, understand their initiatives and needs, and address existing challenges.

During the session, Minister Rati Bregadze interacted with attendees in a question-answer format, fostering a dialogue that enables swift problem-solving and ensures the efficient functioning of regional offices.

Joining Minister Bregadze were Deputy Minister Erekle Gvinianidze, Executive Director of the Public Service Hall Lasha Lobjanidze, along with representatives from the Public Service Hall, the State Services Development Agency, the National Public Registry Agency, the National Archive, the National Bureau of Enforcement, Crime Prevention, Non-custodial Sentences, the National Probation Agency, and notaries.

Convicts at Kutaisi Penitentiary No. 2 now have access to essential services through the newly inaugurated Public Service Hall branch within the facility itself. Rati Bregadze, alongside officials from the Public Service Hall and the Penitentiary Service, unveiled this initiative aimed at enhancing inmate welfare.

Moreover, the Ministry of Justice introduced another initiative - the Digital University - within the institution. This project enables incarcerated students to pursue comprehensive higher education remotely. They can engage in university studies, attend online lectures, and interact directly with lecturers.

The integration of the Public Service Hall within penitentiary institutions represents a unique Georgian innovation, unparalleled worldwide. Over 50 services are now accessible to inmates through these branches, significantly improving their access to essential resources.

Additionally, Public Service Hall branches extend their services to Penitentiary Service staff.

Previously, individuals in custody had to rely on third-party power of attorney or written correspondence with the Public Service Hall for services, resulting in lengthy and inflexible processes. With the establishment of Public Service Hall branches within the penitentiary system, incarcerated individuals can now access services with the same convenience as any other visitor to the Public Service Hall.

The expansion of the Houses of Justice and the Digital University project will gradually encompass other penitentiary institutions.

On April 25, the Ministry of Justice received notification from the European Court of Human Rights regarding the withdrawal of an appeal by Mikheil Saakashvili. Accompanying the notification was a letter from Saakashvili's legal representative, dated April 18, citing his client's decision to withdraw the appeal. Notably, the letter mentions that Saakashvili's current health condition is not deemed life-threatening.

The European Court has requested the Ministry of Justice to provide comments by May 10, if any.

Today, we have submitted a corresponding response, in which we emphasize that Saakashvili's health condition is not considered life-threatening. This was confirmed by the Strasbourg court itself on May 11, 2023, when Saakashvili's request for transfer to Poland, specifically to a clinic in Warsaw for treatment, was denied. Additionally, we have requested the European Court of Human Rights to inform us of the case's removal from the list of pending cases.

During the meeting with Otkurbek Dzhamshitov, Rati Bregadze emphasized the importance of deepening mutual cooperation and sharing experiences between the two countries in the realm of justice enforcement.

The Minister highlighted that one of the principal priorities of the Ministry of Justice is bolstering international cooperation. The agency actively engages with partner states to facilitate mutual legal assistance in both civil and criminal law matters, including extradition and the transfer of convicted individuals and aspects of serving their sentences.

Another crucial priority is advancing a penitentiary system that adheres to modern standards and offering alternative sentencing options, along with rehabilitation programs for convicts and probationers to support their re-socialization.

Moreover, Rati Bregadze underscored the ongoing reforms spearheaded by the Ministry of Justice, particularly in the realms of digitalization and cybersecurity.

Discussions at the meeting also revolved around the potential for knowledge exchange between the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, encompassing law enforcement practices, service accessibility, and digital innovations.

As part of his visit to Georgia, the Prosecutor General of Kyrgyzstan will also meet with the leadership of the Probation Agency and gain insights into the Georgian technological innovation ProbBox, which has garnered recognition from the European Probation Confederation (CEP) as a noteworthy European-scale innovation. The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili and Head of International Relations and Legal Cooperation Department, Ketevan Sarajishvili.

Beka Dzamashvili engaged in discussions with British legal experts aimed at bolstering sectoral collaboration between Georgia and the United Kingdom.

The Georgian party underscored the significance of knowledge exchange with Britain, particularly in areas such as refining the arbitration framework, facilitating state representation in foreign courts and arbitrations, and enhancing legal expertise in interpreting legal acts, statutes, international treaties, and agreements.

Both sides highlighted the importance of promoting English law in Georgia and enhancing familiarity with case law among legal practitioners.

The meeting was also attended by Head of the International Relations and Legal Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Justice, Keti Sarajishvili and Executive Director of the Bar Association, Giorgi Chekhani.

The Training Center of Justice unveiled this free course, aimed at all individuals interested in mastering Georgian and fostering its wider use.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Tornike Cheishvili, underscored the project's significance, particularly for diaspora members and ethnic minorities, during his presentation.

"At the Ministry of Justice, ensuring accessible state services is a top priority. Thus, enabling citizens to access these services without language barriers is crucial. That's why we've developed the first-ever online Georgian language course and a corresponding web platform at the Training Center of Justice. This initiative will empower citizens to learn Georgian, facilitating smoother communication when accessing services," Deputy Minister Cheishvili explained.

The Georgian language online course, spearheaded by the Training Center of Justice, received financial support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the German government. The Digital Governance Agency of the Ministry of Justice has crafted an online training platform accessible through https://eacademy.tcj.gov.ge/, offering course content in English, Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Ukrainian.

Comprising 20 comprehensive lessons, the course caters specifically to non-Georgian speakers. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate. The project's beneficiaries encompass:

• Members of Georgian diasporas worldwide
• Ethnic minorities within Georgia
• Asylum seekers in Georgia
• Individuals holding refugee or humanitarian status
• Those aspiring to attain Georgian citizenship
• Foreign nationals with a keen interest in Georgian culture

The event was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Justice; representatives of the executive government; Representatives of UNDP, State Language Department, German Embassy in Georgia, the Training Center of Justice and other invited guests.

Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, Beka Dzamashvili expressed gratitude to the forum participants for their two days of fruitful collaboration, emphasizing the pivotal role of such gatherings in fortifying the institutions of both nations and fostering positive transformations.

Addressing the forum, Deputy Minister of Justice, Buba Lomuashvili underscored the significance of digital innovations in the rehabilitation and re-socialization of probationers.

Head of the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia, Nika Tshvarashvili focused on the achievements in the penitentiary system at the thematic panel and shared his experience of the approach focused on the protection of human rights to his Armenian colleagues.

Head of the Department of International Relations and Legal Cooperation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Ketevan Sarajishvili contributed by sharing Georgian experiences in extradition and child abduction matters with Armenian colleagues.

Throughout the two-day forum, discussions delved into current accomplishments and forthcoming innovations, engaging representatives from various sectors including the Human Rights Protection Secretariat of the Government of Georgia, the Personal Data Protection Service, the Association of Mediators, the Association of Lawyers, and the Legal Aid Service.