The Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze, hosted a delegation from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe during their 7th periodic visit. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing reforms in Georgia's penitentiary system and showcase the innovations introduced in response to recommendations from previous visits.

During the meeting, Minister Bregadze highlighted key advancements, including the adoption of the new Penal Code in 2023, which strengthens protections for the rights of convicts and accused persons, while also enhancing working conditions for penitentiary staff. He introduced the delegation to several innovative initiatives, including the Digital University, a project enabling inmates to pursue higher education remotely through daily interaction with lecturers. The Digital University was recently recognized as one of the top three projects by the European Organization of Prison and Penitentiary Systems (Europris).

The Minister also presented the Public Service Hall initiative within penitentiary institutions. This project provides up to 50 essential public services to inmates in seven facilities (Nos. 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 16). Additionally, he introduced the online clinic service, which ensures swift and effective access to medical care for inmates, and the Saakadze Training Base, which offers specialized training for staff across the Penitentiary Service, Probation Agency, National Bureau of Enforcement, and General Inspectorate.

Significant infrastructural advancements were also noted, including the opening of a modern penitentiary facility in the Laituri district in 2023, with another small-scale facility slated to open in Rustavi in early 2025. These upgrades align with the implementation of the penitentiary system’s Sports Strategy, aimed at enhancing physical and mental well-being within the facilities.

Minister Bregadze also emphasized the success of rehabilitation and resocialization programs for inmates, such as the Re-market project, which provides a platform for selling handicrafts made by convicts, fostering both skill development and economic opportunities.

The Minister highlighted a key achievement: since 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has not received a single case originating from Georgia’s penitentiary system—a testament to the country’s progress in ensuring the humane treatment of detainees.

The CPT delegation is set to meet with representatives from the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Health, the Special Investigation Service, and the Public Defender’s Office. They will also visit closed penitentiary and psychiatric institutions, as well as temporary detention facilities.

Deputy Minister of Justice Beka Dzamashvili, Director General of the Special Penitentiary Service, Nika Tshvarashvili, Head of the Department of International Relations and Legal Cooperation of the Ministry of Justice, Ketevan Sarajishvili and Head of the Medical Department of the Special Penitentiary Service, Malkhaz Urtkhmelidze were also present at the meeting.

The members of the commission were briefed by representatives of the Central Election Commission on ongoing election disputes within the general courts and the election administration.

The meeting of the Interagency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) was chaired by the Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze. It was attended by heads of public agencies that are part of the commission, along with representatives from international and local monitoring organizations, as well as political parties.

The IATF, established under the Election Code, aims to prevent violations of election legislation by civil servants and to respond to any reported infractions. The task force is led by Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze.

Individuals can share information relevant to the commission's responsibilities via email at iatf@justice.gov.ge or through the hotline at (+995) 599 85 00 11.

The task force will conclude its operations after the Central Election Commission officially publishes the final election results.

The 7th Ministerial Conference of the Budapest Process took place in Budapest, Hungary, where participating countries adopted a ministerial declaration and a 2025-2030 action plan for implementation.

Georgia’s delegation, led by First Deputy Minister of Justice Tamar Tkeshelashvili, participated in the conference. Tkeshelashvili addressed issues outlined in the ministerial declaration, underscoring the importance of collaboration among nations in migration management at both global and regional levels.

Also representing Georgia was Ambassador Tamar Liluashvili, alongside officials from Georgia's Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs.

The ministerial declaration and action plan address key topics, including the prevention of illegal migration, capacity-building for legal migration, migrant return and reintegration, leveraging migration’s positive impacts on development, and enhancing international protection and integration.

These documents result from the collaborative efforts of over 50 participating countries and 10 partner international organizations within the Budapest Process. The adopted action plan establishes priority areas for the region over the next five years.

The Ministry of Justice has been spearheading a nationwide land registration system reform since 2022, currently active in 59 municipalities. This initiative aims to register land plots owned, used, or even informally occupied by citizens - completely free of charge.

Progress to date was showcased at an event hosted at the Saakadze Training Base of the Justice Training Center. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Justice Minister Rati Bregadze addressed the attendees, while David Devidze, Chairperson of the National Agency of Public Registry, delivered the main presentation.

Since the project's inception, over 1.5 million land plots have been surveyed, and ownership rights for more than 1 million plots have been successfully registered. Additionally, around 1,000 individuals have been trained and employed to support the reform.

Given the remarkable progress, the government has decided to extend the reform until the end of 2025 to ensure that all land plots across the country are accounted for and registered. Upon completion, the initiative will result in a unified cadastral database, clearly delineating private, state, and municipal property.

During the event, Justice Minister Bregadze also showcased the modern equipment and tools being utilized for the reform, as well as the newly inaugurated Saakadze Training Base.

The presentation was attended by representatives from the executive and legislative branches, deputy ministers of justice, state officials, and key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the National Agency of Public Registry, and participating self-government bodies.

At the tenth session of the Interagency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF), the Deputy Chairperson of the IATF, Giorgi Sharabidze, presented a detailed analysis of potential violations of election legislation that occurred during the voting process. The session addressed concerns regarding the secrecy of voting, the functionality of the verification system, adherence to marking rules, the free expression of the voter’s will at the polling station, and the repeated casting of votes in the name of others.

The session also included a presentation on the IATF’s response to the issues raised through media monitoring.

Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze presided over the session, which was attended by representatives of public agencies, international and local monitoring organizations, and political parties.

The Interagency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF), established in accordance with the Election Code, is tasked with preventing violations of election legislation by civil servants and responding to such violations. The task force is headed by Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze.

The public is encouraged to report matters within the IATF’s jurisdiction through email at iatf@justice.gov.ge or by calling the hotline at (+995) 599 85 00 11.

The IATF will conclude its activities upon the official announcement of election results by the Central Election Commission (CEC).