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Thursday, 05 December, 2024
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Strasbourg Court Confirms Davit Kezerashvili’s Guilt in Embezzling Georgian Army Funds, Rejects Claims of Political Persecution

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued its decision in the case of Davit Kezerashvili v. Georgia. At a briefing, Justice Minister Anri Okhanashvili discussed the ruling, which upheld the verdict against Kezerashvili.

“The Court concluded that, while serving as Defense Minister shortly before the August 2008 war, Davit Kezerashvili embezzled €5,060,000 (approximately 15 million GEL at today's exchange rate) intended for the Georgian army. It also determined there was no political persecution involved in his prosecution. The Supreme Court of Georgia's verdict finding Kezerashvili guilty was deemed well-founded, and no violation of the presumption of innocence was found,” Okhanashvili stated.

Okhanashvili outlined the fraudulent activities carried out by Kezerashvili:

"During his tenure as Defense Minister, Kezerashvili unlawfully signed a fictitious agreement with an offshore company in a single day to provide combat training for the Georgian army. This agreement bypassed the General Staff of the Defense Forces. In reality, no training occurred, and the €5,060,000 allocated for the Georgian army was deliberately misappropriated."

Anri Okhanashvili emphasized that the Court also dismissed Kezerashvili’s demand for €15,000 in moral damages. Kezerashvili, who enriched himself by defrauding the Georgian army, sought additional compensation for moral damage. The Strasbourg Court firmly rejected this claim. It confirmed the seriousness of Kezerashvili’s crime and upheld the Supreme Court of Georgia's ruling as lawful.

The Justice Minister congratulated the Georgian state and armed forces on their success in the European Court and acknowledged those who defended Georgia’s interests:


“I congratulate the Georgian state, army, and people on this significant victory. I extend my gratitude to the Ministry of Justice staff and the Prosecutor’s Office for their dedicated work. We now look forward to seeing how our European partners, particularly those who previously characterized Kezerashvili as a media advocate, respond to this decision affirming his guilt,” Okhanashvili remarked.

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The Minister of Justice Participates in the Opening of an Event Dedicated to Lawyers’ Day

Minister of Justice of Georgia Paata Salia attended an international conference marking the anniversary of the Georgian Bar Association. The main theme of the event was the development of the legal profession in the age of artificial intelligence.

The Minister of Justice addressed the conference participants. Paata Salia noted that a significant part of his life had been connected with the legal profession, which continues to shape his attitude towards those working in this field.

“At the heart of a lawyer’s work is always a person, with their rights, problems and expectations of justice. Every case handled with a high degree of professionalism and integrity strengthens the belief that individuals can defend their rights and that their voices will be duly heard in the administration of justice,” the Minister of Justice stated.

Paata Salia also spoke about the importance of cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the legal community. He noted that quality and predictable legislation, legal certainty and access to legal assistance were areas in which taking into account the practical experience of legal professionals was of paramount importance.

“The Ministry of Justice will continue its close cooperation with the Association. This relationship should be based on mutual respect for each other’s roles and independence, open exchange of views and consistent work on issues of common interest. ... The results of our joint efforts should be felt by individuals through better protection of their rights,” Paata Salia noted.

The event was attended by members of Georgia’s legislative and executive branches, as well as representatives of international organizations and heads of bar associations from partner countries.

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Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia Lana Morgoshia Holds Meetings with Foreign Counterparts on the Sidelines of UN Summit

Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia Lana Morgoshia held meetings with her foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the UN Public Administration Innovation Summit, which brought together high-level delegations from more than 100 countries around the world.

During her meeting with Rolf Alter, a member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, Deputy Minister Morgoshia reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Principles. She noted that strengthening cooperation with the UN Committee of Experts and partner countries is an important mechanism for building modern and inclusive public institutions.

In her meeting with Paraskevi Charalampogiani, Deputy Minister of the Interior of Greece, Lana Morgoshia discussed digital transformation and reforms aimed at the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Particular attention was paid to the successful innovations introduced by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, which have made public services more accessible to citizens.

The meeting with Jan Gajdos, Secretary General of the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in institutional modernization and digital governance. The discussions covered Georgia’s innovative initiatives, including Public Service Halls, the Mobile Public Service Hall, the Unified Service Portal, and the innovative “Smart Contract” service.

The meetings were attended by Vakhtang Zhvania, Chairman of the Public Service Hall, senior representatives of the Public Service Hall and the Public Service Development Agency, as well as Giorgi Zakharashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan.