The closing event of the first national simulation training on trafficking in human beings was held today.

The training entitled - Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings: Sustainability of Inter-agency Cooperation through Implementation of National Simulation Training - is conducted in Georgia under the leadership of the Ministry of Justice, with the financial support of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia. The national simulation training was aimed at increasing the practical skills of about 40 investigators, prosecutors, labor inspectors, psychologists, social workers and staff dealing with victims working on the crime of trafficking through inter-agency cooperation and a victim-oriented approach, which in turn will contribute to the timely detection of crimes, the punishment of criminals and effective integration of victims into society.

Georgia is one of the first states where simulation training was held at the national level. This indicates the fight against this crime as one of the priority directions of the Georgian government.

It should be noted that Georgia occupies one of the leading positions in the world in the fight against trafficking in human beings. This is evidenced by the latest 2022 report of the US State Department, according to which Georgia, along with a number of European countries, maintains its place at the highest level of assessment, in the so-called the first tier. It should also be emphasized that, like the previous years, only Georgia among the states of the Eastern Partnership remained on the highest level of the rating scale.

The national simulation training was carried out within the framework of the Interagency Coordination Council for the Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings in close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance, the Labor Inspection Service, the State Agency for Care and Assistance of Victims of Trafficking and non-governmental organizations in Georgia.

The national simulation training started on November 7 and ended today.

During the meeting with Dean of the University of Vienna, Brigitta Zöchling-Jud, the Minister of Justice talked about future joint programs and research projects with the University of Vienna. Future cooperation between the Training Center of Justice and the University of Vienna will create a good opportunity for joint projects. In addition, employees of the Ministry of Justice will participate in the programs of the University of Vienna.

Rati Bregadze, speaking with Professor Brigitta Zöchling-Jud, noted that it is very interesting for the Georgian side to share the experience of the academic circle of the Faculty of Law of the University of Vienna. In his conversation with the Dean, the Minister noted that the memorandum signed between the Ministries of Justice of Georgia and Austria covers many areas of cooperation.

At the meeting, they also talked about the legal magazine Iustitia founded in 2021 by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Rati Bregadze also provided detailed information to Dr. Brigitta Zöchling-Jud about the scientific council at the Ministry of Justice, which was established on August 1, 2022 and was staffed by prominent experts in various fields of law.

The parties expressed hope for close, bilateral cooperation and implementation of joint projects with academic circles.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze met today with Head of the Training Department of the Austrian Penitentiary Service, Oberst Martin Hoffmann, within the framework of his official visit to Austria. At the meeting, the Minister noted that providing a strong, safe and human rights-based environment is a priority for the agency. According to him, within the framework of the reform of the penitentiary and probation systems, corrections are made considering the best international practice. In this regard, the sharing of European experience is of particular importance.

Rati Bregadze also discussed training modules with Oberst Martin Hoffman. The Minister of Justice expressed interest in the Austrian experience of educational trainings in the direction of training of social workers, psychologists, and medical personnel. The Minister of Justice stated at the meeting that the agency invests significant resources in improving the professional skills of its employees, which are being implemented with the Training Center of Justice.

At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Justice expressed his hope that cooperation between Georgia and Austria will become even more intensive, which acquires special importance in the light of the country's European aspirations and perspective.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Justice, Buba Lomuashvili and Tornike Cheishvili, Head of the Special Penitentiary Service, Nika Tshvarashvili and Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Austria, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

This document ensures the strengthening of mutual cooperation between Georgia and Austria in the field of justice, rule of law and protection of human rights.

The deepening of partnership relations between the two countries includes the sharing of experience in the areas of mobile and electronic state services, rehabilitation and re-socialization of convicts, management of sports, educational and employment programs in the penitentiary institutions.

The memorandum also envisions cooperation in the field of convergence with EU legislation, mutual legal assistance in civil, commercial and criminal cases.

Before signing the memorandum, Rati Bregadze spoke with his Austrian colleague, Alma Zadich about organization of the Georgian-Austrian legal forum, which will be hosted alternately by Georgia and Austria every year. The conversation touched on the encouragement of student exchange programs, which in the future will contribute to the law-making process based on evidence and research-analysis.

Rati Bregadze informed his Austrian counterpart about the priorities of the Ministry, which are reflected in the 10-year development strategy of the agency. The deepening of cooperation in the direction of convergence with the European Union legislation, effective law-making process, strengthening of international relations is gaining even more importance on the path of Georgia's European integration.

During the meeting with his Austrian colleague, Rati Bregedze noted that a special electronic program will be launched in the near future, which will ensure a quick and high-quality implementation of the process of harmonization with the European Union legislation.

Another area of strengthening partnership relations will be bilateral legal relations.

The meeting was attended by members of the delegation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Ambassador of Georgia to Austria.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers of Justice, Buba Lomuashvili and Tornike Cheishvili, Head of the Special Penitentiary Service, Nika Tshvarashvili and Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Austria, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

Within the framework of the current official visit to Austria, Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze held the first meeting with the General Director of the Penitentiary Service of the Republic of Austria, Friedrich Alexander König.

The parties shared their experience and existing knowledge in the area of penitentiary services.

At the meeting, the Minister spoke about the achievements in the penitentiary and probation systems of Georgia. He informed the Austrian side about the innovative educational project - Digital University, which increases access to education for convicts.

The Ministry of Justice of Georgia plans to further deepen cooperation with the Republic of Austria in the direction of managing the penitentiary and probation system, which will allow the country to develop rehabilitation and re-socialization programs, activities outside the cell; Employment, educational and sports programs for prisoners.

At the meeting, Rati Bregadze noted that the alignment to the best European standards is a strategic priority of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and it is reflected in the 10-year development plan of the Justice Ministry.

The Minister of Justice expressed his satisfaction that cooperation in the field of management of penitentiary and probation systems will be deepened and a corresponding memorandum will be signed with the Ministry of Justice of Austria. He also noted that the deepening of sectoral cooperation with European colleagues is particularly important on the path of Georgia's European integration, especially after adopting the European perspective.

At the meeting, they also talked about the construction of small penitentiary institutions. In Georgia, the first small-scale facility for up to 700 convicts will be opened in Laituri. The Minister of Justice invited Friedrich Alexander König to the opening ceremony of Laituri prison in Georgia.

Friedrich Alexander König noted that it was an honor for him to meet with the Minister of Justice of Georgia. "It was a great honor for me to meet the Minister and his delegation to talk about the penitentiary systems of Georgia and Austria and the issues that concern us all. I believe that we can learn a lot from each other, and both sides are very satisfied with this meeting," said König.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers of Justice, Buba Lomuashvili and Tornike Cheishvili, Head of the Special Penitentiary Service, Nika Tshvarashvili and Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Austria, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

The Strasbourg Court did not find a violation of the applicant's right to a fair trial, the circumstances of obtaining evidence ("sodium cyanide") and their reliability. Accordingly, the ECHR did not call into question the findings of the investigative body and the courts at the national level regarding the criminal case against the applicant. It is significant that the Strasbourg Court agreed with the government's position that the evidence obtained by the investigation proved that the "implantation" of a poisonous substance, as claimed by the applicant, was excluded. In addition, the European Court noted that Giorgi Mamaladze's verdict is based on a number of other evidences in the case, such as witness statements, audio and video material, computer data and others.

As for the applicant's other requests, the Court found that the complete closure of the hearings of the case against the applicant was not strictly necessary. In particular, according to the assessment of the European Court, the domestic courts did not adequately justify why part of the hearing could not be held in public. The ECHR considered it a violation of the presumption of innocence to jointly make separate public statements against the applicant and publication of part of the case materials by the Prosecutor's Office, while the obligation of non-disclosure of information was applied to the defense.

It should be noted that the mentioned violations are of a procedural nature and do not affect the validity of the verdict, which was once again confirmed by the decision of the European Court itself today, according to which the criminal proceedings were fair as a whole, the search of the applicant was legal, and there was no case of "implantation" of cyanide.

The European Court of Human Rights upheld the verdict against Giorgi Mamaladze to be legal and dismissed the claim for moral compensation.

In the ECHR, Giorgi Mamaladze argued that the right to a fair trial was violated due to the circumstances of obtaining the evidence ("sodium cyanide"). He also appealed against the complete closure of the ongoing trial against him and claimed that the presumption of his innocence was violated based on the statements of the General Prosecutor's Office and officials.

The Strasbourg Court did not find a violation of the applicant's right to a fair trial, the circumstances of obtaining evidence ("sodium cyanide") and their reliability. Accordingly, the ECHR did not call into question the findings of the investigative body and the courts at the national level regarding the criminal case against the applicant. It is significant that the Strasbourg Court agreed with the government's position that the evidence obtained by the investigation proved that the "implantation" of a poisonous substance, as claimed by the applicant, was excluded. In addition, the European Court noted that Giorgi Mamaladze's verdict is based on a number of other evidences in the case, such as witness statements, audio and video material, computer data and others.

As for the applicant's other requests, the Court found that the complete closure of the hearings of the case against the applicant was not strictly necessary. In particular, according to the assessment of the European Court, the domestic courts did not adequately justify why part of the hearing could not be held in public. The ECHR considered it a violation of the presumption of innocence to jointly make separate public statements against the applicant and publication of part of the case materials by the Prosecutor's Office, while the obligation of non-disclosure of information was applied to the defense.

It should be noted that the mentioned violations are of a procedural nature and do not affect the validity of the verdict, which was once again confirmed by the decision of the European Court itself today, according to which the criminal proceedings were fair as a whole, the search of the applicant was legal, and there was no case of "implantation" of cyanide.

The digital educational platform for convicts in penitentiary institutions has been launched.

The project gives convicted students the opportunity to receive full-fledged higher education remotely; to be involved in the process of university studies; Attend lectures online and have direct, interactive communication with lecturers.

Until now, academic teaching in penitentiary institutions was carried out only through correspondence. Convicted students received study materials and completed written assignments, however, they were deprived of the opportunity to communicate directly with lecturers.

The digital learning platform is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and includes both undergraduate and master's degrees of authorized universities in Georgia. The first stage of the project was launched at institution No. 16. Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze and Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli got acquainted with the training process today. Ministers also visited places of vocational training and professional employment of convicts.

The Digital University makes university education even more accessible to convicts; The quality and efficiency of teaching increases, which, at the same time, will contribute to the rehabilitation and re-socialization of prisoners.