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Wednesday, 15 March , 2023
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Delegation of the Ministry of Justice Participates in the 66th Session of the United Nations Office’s Commission on Narcotics Drugs

Head of the International Relations and Legal Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Justice, Ketevan Sarajishvili delivered a speech at the 66th session of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs and Crime. In the report, she focused on the importance of a balanced and human rights-based drug policy in the country.

In her speech, the representative of the Ministry of Justice emphasized all the progressive steps taken at the national level, which made it possible to take countermeasures to modern challenges. In particular, the importance of a four-pillar drug policy, which includes preventive, treatment-rehabilitative, harm reduction and demand/supply reduction measures implemented in an integrated, equitable approach.

Ketevan Sarajishvili also spoke about the process of evidence-based drug policy development and, for this purpose, the creation of a national drug situation monitoring center in the country in January 2020. The National Center for Monitoring the Drug Situation is an institutional guarantee of the study of the current situation, analysis and implementation of a balanced drug policy.

In the 66th session of the UN Office Commission on Narcotics Drugs, high-level representatives of the United Nations member states, thematic international and non-governmental organizations are taking part. At the 66th session of the Commission, the Ministry of Justice was represented as the head agency of the inter-agency coordination council for the fight against drug addiction.

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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.