The performance of the play - Angels Fly Over the Prison was held today in the Kote Marjanishvili State Drama Theater with the participation of convicts. 19 convicts participate in this one-act play. The script, direction, props, artistic decoration and posters belong to the convicts themselves. The performance was staged in Penitentiary No. 5 (Women’s Prison).

In the process of working on the play, the convicts had the full support of the management of the penitentiary service, as this is part of their re-socialization and rehabilitation program. The play itself is based on the idea that the convict, like any other person, should be able to start life with a clean slate after making a mistake. The process of working on the play was a kind of way for each participating convict to understand that through overcoming internal difficulties they will be able to draw experience from their mistakes that will help them plan their lives better. Angels Fly Over the Prison has already been performed on the stage of the Sandro AkhmeteliState Drama Theater;

Some of the convicts participating in the first performance have already left the penitentiary and were replaced by other convicts. The performance itself, as well as the process of working on it, is a kind of rehearsal for returning to society for convicts. Before the performance, an exhibition of handicrafts made by convicts was organized in the lobby of the Marjanishvili Theater.

The performance was attended by Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze, the Deputy Ministers of Justice, Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, who cooperates with the Ministry of Justice within the framework of the "Digital University" project, members of the legislative authority, representatives of the LEPLs of the Ministry of Justice and members of the Patriarchate.

In the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT), the competitions for selection of candidates from Georgia to be submitted to the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) of the Council of Europe have been announced. The indicated contests will be held in accordance with the rules of conducting the competition approved by the orders of the Minister of Justice of Georgia No. 848, No. 849 and No. 850 of July 27, 2022. The Minister of Justice of Georgia has been granted the authority to determine the rules and procedure for the selection of candidates from Georgia to be submitted to international courts, as well as to international organizations working on human rights and legal issues and their bodies, by the Resolution No. 234 of the Government of Georgia. It should be noted that before the adoption of this resolution, there was no unified approach to the rules and procedures for the selection of candidates; The purpose of granting this authority to the Minister of Justice is the effective and timely fulfillment of the international obligations before Georgia, the selection and presentation of a candidate in the above-mentioned bodies impartially and in accordance with international standards. The participation of representatives of thematic agencies is considered in the composition of the candidate selection commission.

Candidates selected and nominated by the Georgian quota will act individually, independently and impartially in the above-mentioned bodies within the framework of their activities. Competition requirements are placed at the following links:

- Candidate for membership of the Council of Europe's European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) - https:/www.hr.gov.ge/JobProvider/UserOrgVaks/Details/72655?active=1 ;

- Candidate for the membership of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) of the Council of Europe- https://www.hr.gov.ge/JobProvider/UserOrgVaks/Details/72722?active=1 ;

- Candidate for membership of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) - https://www.hr.gov.ge/JobProvider/UserOrgVaks/Details/72654?active=1.

In the near future, additional selection contests will be announced for the nomination of candidates to those international bodies where the deadline for the nomination of a candidate from Georgia is approaching.

In the 2nd issue of the magazine, the reader can get acquainted with the works of Georgian and foreign researchers on such actual challenges of modern legal science as: the relationship between the church and the state, definition of the concept of terrorism; Legal definition of cyber-attack; jury and mediation institutions in the Georgian legal space; Alternative dispute resolution in competition law.

For those interested in the history of law, the publication of the famous scholar Wilhelm Sauer's work ("Justice") continues, which is being published in Georgian for the first time. It is also possible to get acquainted with the Polish Constitution of 1791.

In the 2nd issue of the publication, the reader will also meet the interviews of Minister of Justice of Armenia, Karen Andreasian, and Prosecutor General of Georgia, Irakli Shotadze; The biography of the famous Georgian scientist, legal expert, Otar Gamkrelidze.

The Georgian-English magazine of the Ministry of Justice "IUSTITIA" was founded in June last year on the initiative of the Minister of Justice. It is a quarterly, refereed and peer-reviewed publication. Its purpose is to promote the development of separate fields of law and the deepening of academic discussion on legal issues.

In order to involve academic circles and the scientific community in the process of reforms, law-making activities, development and implementation of policy documents in the Ministry's system, the Ministry of Justice is establishing a new platform. According to the decision of the Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze, a scientific advisory council was established at the agency, which is staffed by prominent experts in various fields of law.

The Scientific Advisory Council will develop draft laws, concepts, conclusions and opinions to be submitted to the Minister of Justice; These scientific and expert proposals will be taken into account in various spheres of activity of the Ministry of Justice.

Promotion of the law-making process based on scientific conclusions and analytics is one of the main priorities of the 10-year strategy of the Ministry of Justice. For this purpose, the bilingual legal journal Iustitia was founded last year, which is a quarterly, refereed and peer-reviewed publication. The presentation of the 2nd issue of the magazine was symbolically held at the session of the Scientific Advisory Council.

The members of the council include representatives of the Ministry of Justice, heads of law schools of higher educational institutions and professors.

The Minister thanked the Ambassador for his cooperation and talked about future prospects. During the meeting with Hubert Knirsh, Rati Bregadze emphasized the special role of Germany in supporting Georgia's European perspective. The Minister also noted the Ambassador's personal contribution to the issue of deepening the relations between the two countries.

Rati Bregadze expressed hope that the cooperation between Georgia and Germany will become even more intensive and wished Hubert Knirsh success in his future career.

Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze congratulated the employees of the agency on their professional day. The Minister summarized the implemented projects and thanked the employees for their services.

Head of the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Enforcement of Non-custodial Sentences and Probation, Lado Kheladze introduced the results of the agency's activities and development vision to the employees. He focused on technological innovations, strengthening the direction of crime prevention, promotion of human resources development, infrastructural renewals and provision of necessary services to the beneficiaries.

Over the past year, a number of promises in the direction of crime prevention and probation have been fulfilled:

The first innovative device in Europe Probbox - an electronic service system for probationers, which provides geographic availability and anonymity of probation services. Currently, Probbox is distributed in the Public Service Halls and municipal buildings in 7 cities of Georgia, and in the future its number will increase to 250;

The renovated office of the Imereti Regional Probation Bureau opened in Kutaisi, and municipal offices - in Zestafon and Terjola. Meanwhile, Gardabani, Sighnaghi, Kaspi and Chkhorotsku probation offices have been located in the Public Service Halls and Community Centers of the same cities; The first regional office of the Juvenile Referral Center also opened in Kutaisi;

With respect to HR development - the number of probation officers increased by 12%, the number of social workers by 26%, and the number of psychologists by 67%. Code of ethics for probation officers has been developed as well;

4 new rehabilitation programs were introduced in the direction of re-socialization-rehabilitation of convicts and ex-prisoners. 577 minors and adults under the age of 21 have been included in diversion programs. The rate of successful mediation was statistically the highest - 67%;

In order to promote the employment of the beneficiaries of the agency, memoranda have been concluded with the State Employment Agency, the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture. After the involvement of persons sentenced to penal labor in the implementation of infrastructural projects and after serving the sentence, for the promotion of their employment, memoranda have been signed with the mayors of different municipalities;

Mobile and 24-hour electronic monitoring teams have been created for effective enforcement of house arrest.

At the end of the event, Deputy Minister of Justice, Buba Lomuashvili and Head of the Bureau, Lado Kheladze awarded the successful professionals with certificates of appreciation.

The event dedicated to the day of the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Enforcement of Non-custodial Sentences and Probation was attended by agency employees, deputy ministers of justice, heads of structural units of the ministry, and representatives of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the United States of America.

The Ministry of Justice of Georgia continues to cooperate with higher education institutions. The agency signed the memorandum today with Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University.

Within the framework of the memorandum, students will undergo training at the Ministry of Justice and will acquire the necessary skills to work independently. The Ministry will promote the successful employment of students in the Ministry's system.

The document was signed by Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze and Rector of BSU, Merab Khalvashi.

Also today, Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili delivered a public lecture to students and teachers at Batumi University. The topic of the lecture was the legal security of the country and the legal struggle to protect the sovereignty of Georgia. The Deputy Minister spoke about the importance of the protection of state interests by the Ministry of Justice for the sovereignty of Georgia and the subsequent de-occupation, what legal leverage is provided to Georgia by the Strasbourg Court’s confirmation of the fact of occupation by the Russian Federation, as well as, recognition of the ethnic cleansing of Georgians in the Tskhinvali region; Also, establishing Russia's guilt for killing and torturing Georgian prisoners of war; for inhumane and degrading treatment of military and civilian persons.

The lecture discussed the issuance of arrest warrants by the Hague Court against 3 "high-ranking officials" of the Tskhinvali region, as well as the decision of the Strasbourg Court to exclude or recognize as inadmissible more than 3,300 complaints submitted by the residents of the Tskhinvali region against Georgia, which were filed with the coordination of Russia.

At the end of the lecture, the Deputy Minister of Justice answered the audience's questions.

The event was attended by students, professors and teachers of Batumi State University and Naval Academy, members of the Adjara government and deputy ministers of justice.

The Minister of Justice continues to present the Ministry’s activity reports in the regions. After Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Borjomi and Rustavi, the event was also held in Batumi. Rati Bregadze spoke about the reforms implemented by the Ministry of Justice and fulfilled promises.

Strengthening the direction of human rights protection, legal security and effective services - all the innovations offered by the Ministry of Justice to citizens are united around these three principles. In particular:

The innovative project Mobile Public Service Hall was introduced and is successfully operating in 7 regions; PROBBOX electronic service system for probationers was launched in 6 big cities of Georgia; The reform of systematic land registration started - in 59 municipalities of Georgia, land is being measured and registered step by step, according to the timeframe;

Infrastructural works continue – 5 new public service halls and a community center were opened; Constructions are underway in 6 more municipalities; Additionally, one more Public Service Hall will be opened in Tbilisi, in Hualing; The Samtskhe-Javakheti regional archive building opened in Akhaltsikhe;

The bilingual magazine Iustitia was founded and published; The largest electronic legal database HeinOnline became available to the Ministry of Justice; Memoranda of mutual cooperation were signed with the Ministries of Justice of Turkey, Israel, Hungary, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Switzerland;

Notary services have become available in administrative units - Saguramo, Gamarjveba, Martkofi, Shuakhevi, Adigeni, Aspindza, Kachreti, Keda, Khobi, Zestafon, Sighnaghi and Ambrolauri; Soon, citizens will be able to receive online notary services through a mobile application;

In addition, important reforms have been implemented in the penitentiary and probation systems – employment programs for prisoners have been strengthened; encouragement of sports activities in penitentiary institutions continues; Sports fields are being renovated; Regular trainings are in progress, probation bureaus opened in Sighnaghi, Terjola, Kutaisi and Zestafoni; The referral center opened in Kutaisi; Memoranda of cooperation have been signed with municipalities for the employment of persons sentenced with penal labor.

The presentation of the report was attended by the representatives of the government of Adjara, the Deputy Ministers of Justice, the employees of the LEPLs operating under the ministry and invited guests.

The ministers of justice of the two countries discussed prospects of deepening mutual cooperation at a meeting organized within the framework of the conference of ministers of justice and internal affairs in Prague.

The cooperation between Georgia and the Federal Republic of Germany will become more intensive in the field of civil and criminal law in the direction of managing and organizing a modern penitentiary and probation system; Rehabilitation and re-socialization programs will be implemented in penitentiary and probation systems; The Georgian side will share the German experience in the field of juvenile justice; German experts will be involved in the process of harmonizing Georgian legislation with EU law.

Minister of Justice of Germany invited Rati Bregadze to Berlin for an official visit.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze is in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, to participate in the ministerial meeting of EU member states. Ministers of Justice of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are also attending the conference.