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thuesday, 24 September , 2024
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Ministry of Justice of Georgia Hosts the Group of Experts on Combating Human Trafficking (GRETA)

Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili, held a meeting with the delegation from the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).

During the meeting, the Deputy Minister emphasized that combating human trafficking remains a key priority for the Georgian government. He highlighted that the country continuously implements measures in line with international standards, as demonstrated by several international assessments. Georgia consistently ranks alongside EU member states in terms of its efforts to fight human trafficking.

Notably, according to the 2024 U.S. State Department report on human trafficking, Georgia remains in the top tier of countries for the ninth consecutive year. Among 186 countries worldwide, Georgia is ranked at the highest level for its actions against human trafficking. This year, only 33 countries achieved this top-tier status.

Additionally, the Deputy Minister referenced the 2023 report from the Walk Free Foundation, which assesses the Global Slavery Index. The report ranked Georgia 14th out of 160 countries for its proactive steps in addressing human trafficking.

Dzamashvili reiterated the government’s commitment to continuing its efforts in combating trafficking, noting that the recommendations of GRETA would be fully considered moving forward.

This marks the fourth visit of a GRETA delegation to Georgia. The independent and impartial group of experts is responsible for evaluating how states comply with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

During their visit, the GRETA delegation will also meet with representatives from other government agencies, the Parliament of Georgia, the Public Defender’s Office, the judiciary, and various local and international non-governmental organizations.

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Strasbourg Court Confirms Davit Kezerashvili’s Guilt in Embezzling Georgian Army Funds, Rejects Claims of Political Persecution

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued its decision in the case of Davit Kezerashvili v. Georgia. At a briefing, Justice Minister Anri Okhanashvili discussed the ruling, which upheld the verdict against Kezerashvili.

“The Court concluded that, while serving as Defense Minister shortly before the August 2008 war, Davit Kezerashvili embezzled €5,060,000 (approximately 15 million GEL at today's exchange rate) intended for the Georgian army. It also determined there was no political persecution involved in his prosecution. The Supreme Court of Georgia's verdict finding Kezerashvili guilty was deemed well-founded, and no violation of the presumption of innocence was found,” Okhanashvili stated.

Okhanashvili outlined the fraudulent activities carried out by Kezerashvili:

"During his tenure as Defense Minister, Kezerashvili unlawfully signed a fictitious agreement with an offshore company in a single day to provide combat training for the Georgian army. This agreement bypassed the General Staff of the Defense Forces. In reality, no training occurred, and the €5,060,000 allocated for the Georgian army was deliberately misappropriated."

Anri Okhanashvili emphasized that the Court also dismissed Kezerashvili’s demand for €15,000 in moral damages. Kezerashvili, who enriched himself by defrauding the Georgian army, sought additional compensation for moral damage. The Strasbourg Court firmly rejected this claim. It confirmed the seriousness of Kezerashvili’s crime and upheld the Supreme Court of Georgia's ruling as lawful.

The Justice Minister congratulated the Georgian state and armed forces on their success in the European Court and acknowledged those who defended Georgia’s interests:


“I congratulate the Georgian state, army, and people on this significant victory. I extend my gratitude to the Ministry of Justice staff and the Prosecutor’s Office for their dedicated work. We now look forward to seeing how our European partners, particularly those who previously characterized Kezerashvili as a media advocate, respond to this decision affirming his guilt,” Okhanashvili remarked.