Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze, together with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili and members of the Cabinet of Ministers, was at the Mukhatgadze Brothers Cemetery. The Head of the government and Ministers laid a wreath at the Heroes' Memorial as a mark of respect to the memory of those who died in the August 2008 war.

Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, representatives of the legislative authority and the diplomatic corps were also present at the Mukhathvedi cemetery.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze visited today the Probation Bureau of the Federal Republic of Germany as part of his official visit to Germany. According to the Minister, the successful cooperation between Georgia and Germany is important in the process of European integration of Georgia, especially after granting the European perspective. First Deputy Minister, Tamar Tkeshelashvili, Deputy Minister Buba Lomuashvili and Beka Dzamashvili also participated in the meetings held at the Probation Bureau. According to the Minister, further development of penitentiary and crime prevention systems in accordance with the best European and international standards is a priority for him.

The members of the delegation of the Ministry of Justice spoke about the important reforms implemented by the agency, which are implemented by the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Non-custodial Sentences and Probation; In particular, the innovative device for the control and provision of services for probationers - PROBBOX, through which the control and services of probationers became possible without reporting to the probation offices. By means of this device, more anonymity of probationers is ensured and the geographical area of their control and service is increased. Regarding the PROBBOX, the Ministry of Justice is actively sharing its experience with partner countries.

During his speech, Rati Bregadze focused on such important reforms as: increasing the effectiveness of alternative punishments and execution of house arrests; Supporting the active involvement of persons sentenced for penal labor in the implementation of infrastructure projects of cities and municipalities throughout the country, and promoting/ensuring their employment after serving the sentence; Support for re-socialization and rehabilitation of convicts and ex-prisoners.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze spoke about the importance of the European perspective for Georgia at the meeting held in the Bundestag. Rati Bregadze met with Head of Germany-South Caucasus Parliamentary Friendship Group, Johann David Wadephul in the Bundestag.

First Deputy Minister, Tamar Tkeshelashvili, Deputies, Buba Lomuashvili and Beka Dzamashvili, and Georgian ambassador to Germany, Levan Izoria also took part in the meeting.

The Minister of Justice noted at the meeting that sectoral cooperation and deepening of partnership with the Bundestag is an important issue in the European integration process of Georgia.

Johann David Wadephul noted that he had a very fruitful and good meeting with the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

"We are happy with the close contact of the Georgian authorities with Germany. The entire German parliament is very interested in deepening relations with Georgia. The parliamentary group responsible for Georgia is very happy with our friendship. We are glad that Georgia wants to take steps towards Europe. We are working to accelerate Georgia's even faster integration with the European Union. By expressing our common values and ideas, we will be able to live together in peace and friendship", said Johann David Wadephul.

The visit of the Ministry of Justice delegation to Germany began on September 6. Within the framework of the visit, meetings were held with the Minister of Justice of Germany, the President of the Chamber of Notaries, the Chairman of the Legal Committee of the Bundestag, the heads of the penitentiary and probation systems. Om addition, another meeting was held at Humboldt University.

The program envisions activities to be implemented in the direction of legal cooperation in civil cases and in the field of penitentiary and probation systems. The document was signed by Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze and Federal Minister of Justice of Germany, Marko Bushman.

According to the cooperation program, there will be a sharing of sectoral experience on the issues of children's rights, juvenile justice, management and arrangement of the modern penitentiary and probation systems. In addition, Georgia will share the German experience regarding the rehabilitation and re-socialization, education and employment programs for convicts.

After signing the memorandum, Rati Bregadze thanked his German colleague. He expressed hope that the existing legal cooperation between Georgia and Germany will be further deepened and at the same time it will facilitate the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union.

Marko Bushman said that Georgia and Germany are connected by a long friendship. Germany shares the freedom of democracy and the value of the rule of law. The Minister of Justice of Germany noted that he is glad that the cooperation has reached a higher level and the joint cooperation program has been signed.

"The Federal Republic of Germany is ready to help Georgia to gain a place in the European Union. We are impressed by the ambitions and desires related to Georgia's EU membership," said Marko Bushman.

The meeting was attended by First Deputy Minister of Justice, Tamar Tkeshelashvili, Deputies, Beka Dzamashvili and Buba Lomuashvili, and the Georgian Ambassador to Germany.

During the meeting with President of the Chamber of Notaries of the German Federation, Jens Bormann, Rati Bregadze spoke about the achievements of Georgia in the development of notarial law.

The Minister noted that an electronic register of notarial acts is operating in Georgia and citizens have the opportunity to receive all services remotely through electronic communication. The Minister also spoke about the fact that in Georgia, notary services are available in 12 districts across the country, which significantly saves the population's time and money.

Development of notarial law, technologies for preparing electronic legal transactions, means of preventing forgery of documents, implementation of joint professional training modules - these are the issues that the parties discussed at the meeting. After the meeting with Jens Bormann, Rati Bregadze said that Georgia will continue active cooperation with Germany.

First Deputy Minister of Justice, Tamar Tkeshelashvili, deputies, Beka Dzamashvili, Buba Lomuashvili and Ambassador of Georgia to Germany, Levan Izoria attended the meeting together with the Minister.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze along with his deputies and the Georgian Ambassador to Germany visited the Heidering Penitentiary facility. The delegation was introduced to the German model of management of the penitentiary system, programs of rehabilitation and re-socialization, education of convicts, sports and employment.

The parties shared their experience and existing knowledge in the direction of proper functioning of penitentiary services. Rati Bregadze spoke about the projects of the Ministry of Justice.

At the meeting, the concept of "digital university" was discussed in detail, which the German side was interested in. Through this project, convicts have the opportunity to participate remotely in the process of learning in higher education institutions in an online format. In the future, Georgia will cooperate with Germany in terms of sharing experience regarding the "digital university".

Within the framework of the visit, Rati Bregadze spoke about the innovative technological device PROBBOX created for probationers. This technological device integrates all the services for which the probationers had to go to the probation offices until now. Neighboring countries have already shown interest in these projects of the Ministry of Justice, and Georgia is ready to share this experience with them.

The development of the penitentiary and crime prevention system is one of the main priorities of the Ministry of Justice. The agency has specified specific measures in its 10-year development plan. Among them, new, Construction of small-scale family-type penitentiary areas, increasing the access of convicts to education, promotion of activities outside the convict cell, for which various important projects are implemented. The Ministry of Justice promotes the employment of prisoners and the acquisition of skills necessary for the future profession.

During the meeting with the Deputy Dean of the Law Faculty of Humboldt University, Martin Heger, the Minister of Justice stated that for him, as for a graduate of the German Academy, the process of rapprochement of the Georgian-German academies is particularly important. Here he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity for Georgian students to study in Germany.

Rati Bregadze spoke about the fact that a law informatics course will be created on the basis of the Training Center of Justice. In Georgia, this direction of law is not taught at law faculties. During the meeting with the Minister of Justice, Martin Heger said that it would be interesting to involve the Humboldt University in this regard, as well as to share the German experience in the field of criminology.

Rati Bregadze also spoke about the strategic approach of the Ministry of Justice that in its daily activities, justice and rule of law projects are based on evidence, science, analytics and human rights-based approaches. To support this approach, the bilingual legal magazine Iustitia was founded in 2021, where scientific works are published; A memorandum of cooperation was signed with the Georgian Academy of Sciences; The scientific-advisory council under the Ministry of Justice was founded.

The Ministry of Justice signed memoranda with local universities. The students of the mentioned university will have the opportunity to practice in the Ministry of Justice, which in turn contributes to the attraction and development of intellectual resources.

First Deputy Minister of Justice, Tamar Tkeshelashvili and Deputies, Buba Lomuashvili and Beka Dzamashvili, and Ambassador of Georgia to Germany, Levan Izoria also attended the meeting held at Humboldt University.

Within the framework of his official visit to Germany, the Minister of Justice met today with Chairperson of the Legal Committee of the German Bundestag, Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker. First Deputy Minister, Tamar Tkeshelashvili, Deputies, Buba Lomuashvili and Beka Dzamashvili, and Georgian ambassador to Germany, Levan Izoria also attended the meeting.

At the meeting, the minister said that for him, as for the head of the department of law-making activities, the directions of cooperation with the Legal Committee of the Bundestag and the Federal Ministry of Justice of Germany are particularly interesting.

During the meeting, the members of the delegation of the Ministry of Justice also noted that the modern Georgian legal space was formed under the influence of the values established in Germany. Accordingly, the legal institutions regulated by the legislation of Georgia and their components are clearly similar to the German legal system. According to the Minister of Justice, a great contribution to the creation of the legislation of independent Georgia was made by Georgian scientists, who at one time attended the German school of law and used the experience gained in the preparation of the legislative framework.

The Minister of Justice spoke about the fact that in Georgia, as in all other countries, the Ministry of Justice ensures, on the one hand, law-making activities, and on the other hand, the harmonization of Georgian legislation with international legal norms.

As the Chairperson of the Legal Committee of the German Bundestag noted, such important issues as: legal policy, legal state and democracy were discussed at the meeting. "We have a very high interest in Georgia. At the meeting, we got acquainted with the different directions of the activities of the Ministry of Justice, including digital services. We shared our experiences with each other and I think we will continue to do so with pleasure in the future," said Elizabeth Winkelmeier-Becker.

At the end of the meeting held in the Bundestag, Rati Bregadze noted that it is interesting for him to share German experience and learn about research activities. According to the Minister, the agency is working on a new prison code, and it will be important to get acquainted with the German practice on this issue in the format of cooperation.

After Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Borjomi, Rustavi and Batumi, the Minister of Justice held a presentation of the agency’s activity report for the residents of Telavi. The Minister personally provided information to the people of Telavi 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 offices 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 local government, the Deputy Ministers of Justice, the employees of the local government agencies operating under the Telavi municipality and invited guests.