The meeting between Rati Bregadze and Bence Tujon took place today within the framework of the Joint Declaration between Georgia and Hungary, which was signed by Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili and Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban in October, this year.

The Ministers of Justice of the two countries discussed specific areas of strategic cooperation. The Hungarian side once again confirmed its readiness to provide expert assistance in the process of approximation of the national legislation of Georgia to the law of the European Union. At the meeting, they also discussed the establishment of the Georgian-Hungarian legal forum.

The parties shared their experience in land registration.

The meeting was attended by First Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, Tamar Tkeshelashvili, Deputy, Beka Dzamashvili and Ambassador of Georgia to Hungary, Tamar Liluashvili.

Cooperation between the Ministries of Justice of Georgia and Hungary has been developing intensively especially since 2021, after the renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation. In July 2023, the Justice Ministers of the two countries signed a joint declaration, and in October, the 2024-2025 working plan for cooperation in the field of justice was signed as well.

The Minister of Justice presented the one-year report of the agency's activities to the deputies. The report covered the following topics:

• Activities carried out in the direction of European integration;
• Protection of state interests in international courts;
• Holographic museum of the history of law;
• Further simplification of access to services for citizens; mobile Public Service Hall, new and under-construction Public Service Halls;
• New Penal Code for better protection of prisoners' rights;
• Cases concluded with settlement;
• "Digital University" for the right to education of inmates;
• Restorative justice and mediation programs;
• Systematic registration of land to protect ownership rights;
• Systematic addressing for citizens to simplify receiving services;
• Development of digital governance.

After the report, Rati Bregadze also answered the questions of the deputies.

The 23rd branch of the Public Service Hall in the Imereti region will provide more than 470 services to the population of the city of Zestaponi and its surrounding villages in one space, in a comfortable and modern environment. It should be noted that in the Zestaponi Public Service Hall it will be possible to use the wedding registration in a specially arranged ritual space.

Today, the Mobile Public Service Hall project was also launched in Zestaponi region, which offers services to those living far from the regional centers.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze opened the Public Service Hall of Zestaponi together with Zestaponi Majority MPs, Bezhan Tsakadze and State Trustee in Imereti region, Zviad Shalamberidze. The branch, equipped with new equipment and inventory, is fully adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. About 20 local residents are employed in the office.

Availability of state services is a priority of the Ministry of Justice, which is currently provided by 118 public service halls across the country. In addition, active construction works are underway in Terjola, Samtredia, Khashuri and Akhmeta; By the end of 2024, the Public Service Halls will be opened in Sagarejo, Mtskheta, Tolebi, Zoti, Tsaishi, Khelvachauri, Shrosha, Sachkhere, and new branches will be built in Tbilisi and Batumi.

From 2024, citizens of Georgia will be able to use the digital Public Service Hall, which will allow them to receive all services with their smart phones.

The opening of the Zestaponi Public Service Hall was also attended by the Deputy Ministers of Justice, heads and representatives of local authorities, and invited guests.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze opened today a completely new penitentiary facility for 700 convicts. The Laituri Penitentiary fully meets all the recommendations of the European Committee on Torture and Inhuman Treatment (CPT). It is fully adapted to the needs of both the accused and convicted persons, as well as the employees of the institution.

Inmates are provided with high-quality medical services, sports infrastructure, all means of learning various professions, an auditorium equipped with modern equipment for a digital university, from which convicts can attend lectures online and communicate directly with lecturers.

About 250 employees of the penitentiary will take care of the safety, rehabilitation and resocialization of the inmates, during their sentence term, provided with comfortable working conditions, including free food and transportation; Both sports and recreation areas.

A branch of Public Service Hall was also opened in the institution, which provides access to state services for inmates and employees. The work of the branches of the Public Service Hall in the penitentiary institution is a Georgian innovation and has no precedent in any country of the world. The facility is fully adapted to persons with disabilities.

The presentation of the demonstration version of the "RE-BOX" project was also held at the event, which was created in active cooperation with the Digital Management Agency in order to increase the possibility of access to digital equipment for convicts and the effectiveness of resocialization projects.

Laituri prison is a first small-scale institution corresponding to the highest European standards. Replacing large prisons with small-scale penitentiary institutions is a priority of the Ministry of Justice, and the goal is to bring the Georgian penitentiary system even closer to European standards.

The opening of Laituri Penitentiary No. 1 was attended by Majority Deputy of Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti and Chokhataur, Vasil chigogidze, Chairperson of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, Tornike Rizhvadze, State Trustee in the Guria Region, Giorgi Urushadze, the Deputy Ministers of Justice, representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, and invited guests.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze opened today a completely new penitentiary facility for 700 convicts. The Laituri Penitentiary fully meets all the recommendations of the European Committee on Torture and Inhuman Treatment (CPT). It is fully adapted to the needs of both the accused and convicted persons, as well as the employees of the institution.

Inmates are provided with high-quality medical services, sports infrastructure, all means of learning various professions, an auditorium equipped with modern equipment for a digital university, from which convicts can attend lectures online and communicate directly with lecturers.

About 250 employees of the penitentiary will take care of the safety, rehabilitation and resocialization of the inmates, during their sentence term, provided with comfortable working conditions, including free food and transportation; Both sports and recreation areas.

A branch of Public Service Hall was also opened in the institution, which provides access to state services for inmates and employees. The work of the branches of the Public Service Hall in the penitentiary institution is a Georgian innovation and has no precedent in any country of the world. The facility is fully adapted to persons with disabilities.

The presentation of the demonstration version of the "RE-BOX" project was also held at the event, which was created in active cooperation with the Digital Management Agency in order to increase the possibility of access to digital equipment for convicts and the effectiveness of resocialization projects.

Laituri prison is a first small-scale institution corresponding to the highest European standards. Replacing large prisons with small-scale penitentiary institutions is a priority of the Ministry of Justice, and the goal is to bring the Georgian penitentiary system even closer to European standards.

The opening of Laituri Penitentiary No. 1 was attended by Majority Deputy of Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti and Chokhataur, Vasil chigogidze, Chairperson of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, Tornike Rizhvadze, State Trustee in the Guria Region, Giorgi Urushadze, the Deputy Ministers of Justice, representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, and invited guests.

As part of the ongoing high-level conference in Tbilisi, the Saakadze Training Base of the Training Center of Justice opened today.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze personally opened the Training Base together with the conference participants.

The Saakadze Training Base is unique in the region with various means gathered in one space. It will be possible to conduct universal and special training courses on site.

The base will serve the employees of the Special Penitentiary Service, the Probation Agency, the National Bureau of Enforcement and the General Inspectorate.

The Saakadze Training Base, covers an area of up to five hectares, has a shooting and driving range, auditoriums, sports fields, conference spaces, work rooms, a gym, running tracks, a simulation training center, a training courtroom, training prison cells, a medical station, hotel rooms, a canteen and other required spaces.

The event was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Justice, representatives of partnering agencies, employees of the system and other invited guests.

The high-level conference, which was dedicated to the innovations in the rehabilitation and resocialization process of inmates and probationers, ended with the opening of the Saakadze Training Base.

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia, with the support of the European Organization of the Prison and Penitentiary System (EuroPris) and the US State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It was attended by high-ranking officials of 20 states, among them, ministers of countries, deputy ministers, general directors of penitentiary and probation services, heads of international organizations and experts.

The high-level international conference - "Innovations in the process of rehabilitation and resocialization of inmates and probationers" - concluded its session by adopting a declaration, which is a 12-point guiding document in the process of rehabilitation of inmates and probationers.

The conference is organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia, with the support of the European Organization of the Prison and Penitentiary System (EuroPris) and the US State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It is attended by high-ranking officials of 20 states, among them, ministers of countries, deputy ministers, general directors of penitentiary and probation services, heads of international organizations and experts.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze summarized the work of the conference and expressed hope that the conference will lay the foundation for many interesting and successful cooperations.

Parallel to the conference, bilateral meetings were held with justice ministers, deputy ministers and heads of delegations of the partner countries; Mutual cooperation documents were signed; A visit was made to the Tbilisi Public Service Hall, and on November 3, the delegates of the conference will take part in the opening ceremony of the Saakadze Training Base of the Training Center of Justice.

The meeting of Rati Bregadze and Davor Bunoza was held in Tbilisi within the framework of the high-level international conference organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service. The Minister of Justice of Bosnia-Herzegovina is visiting Georgia to attend the conference.

The parties noted the importance of bilateral cooperation in terms of bringing national legislation closer to EU law. Bosnia-Herzegovina, like Georgia, is actively working for EU membership, and the sharing of experience between the Ministries of Justice of the two countries is particularly relevant in this context.

The Minister of Justice of Georgia expressed his readiness to introduce to the partner state the innovations introduced in the process of rehabilitation and resocialization of inmates and probationers in more details. Rati Bregadze suggested signing a memorandum of mutual cooperation to his colleague. The document covers a number of thematic directions and the area of specific events, which will further activate the process of joint cooperation.

Deputy Ministers of Justice also attended the meeting between Rati Bregadze and Davor Bunoza.