The Minister of Justice and the Director of the Legal Aid Service discussed issues related to interagency cooperation. During the introductory meeting, Otar Chakhunashvili and Paata Salia reviewed joint projects implemented by the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Aid Service.

The parties noted the effective cooperation between the agencies within the framework of projects such as systematic land registration, raising legal awareness among probationers and conditionally convicted persons, and monitoring the legal status of inmates in penitentiary institutions.

The Director of the Legal Aid Service presented the agency’s future plans to the Minister of Justice and the Head of the Special Penitentiary Service, Giorgi Pataridze.

The parties also agreed on specific areas for further deepening cooperation, with a focus on enhancing human rights protection standards.

Laituri Penitentiary Institution to Be Equipped with Sports Fields and a Cinema. Minister of Justice Paata Salia, together with Deputy Minister Lana Morgoshia and Head of the Special Penitentiary Service Giorgi Pataridze, visited Laituri Penitentiary Institution No. 1 to review its infrastructure and planned development projects.

In the near future, the institution will be equipped with a cinema, as well as volleyball, basketball, and football fields. These new facilities will further support the resocialization and rehabilitation of inmates by creating additional educational, cultural, and sporting opportunities.

Laituri Penitentiary Institution is Georgia’s first small-scale correctional facility built in accordance with the highest modern standards. Its contemporary infrastructure ensures the safe and effective management of inmates from different categories. Male and female inmates are housed within the same complex but remain fully separated in compliance with all relevant security standards.

The facility includes a range of spaces designed to meet the needs of inmates, including a digital university where they can attend online lectures and pursue higher education. The institution also features areas for short-term, long-term, and video visits, all adapted for persons with disabilities. A Public Service Hall has been opened to provide services for both staff and inmates. In addition, the medical unit is fully equipped with the necessary inventory and equipment, while individual exercise and rehabilitation spaces have been arranged for inmates in every section.

One of the key priorities of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Special Penitentiary Service is the gradual replacement of large-scale prisons with smaller penitentiary institutions built to modern standards. Laituri Penitentiary Institution No. 1 is a clear example of this approach, offering a safe, dignified, and modern environment fully adapted to the needs of both inmates and staff.