Minister of Justice of Georgia Paata Salia met with 189 interns selected to join the Justice Ministry system under the state-paid internship program initiated by the Prime Minister.

The Minister congratulated the young students on successfully completing the selection process and noted that the internship represents an important first step into a professional environment and an opportunity to gain practical experience. He encouraged the interns to make the most of the program, take initiative, ask questions, share their views, and actively engage in the work of their respective institutions.

Paata Salia stressed that the Ministry of Justice views the internship not only as an opportunity for young people to acquire professional knowledge and practical skills, but also as an important mechanism for attracting young, qualified professionals to the system. The Ministry aims to ensure that, for successful interns, the program can lead to further professional development and employment opportunities.

In 2026, a total of 293 internship vacancies were announced across the Ministry of Justice and 12 legal entities under public law within its system, attracting 6,639 applications. Following the selection process, 189 interns were selected.

In 2025, 109 of the 156 interns admitted under the program had their internships extended, with some subsequently securing employment.

The internship lasts three months, with the possibility of extension. The program is paid, and the internship period counts toward the interns’ work experience and length of service.

The forum was opened by Tamar Zodelava, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, and Haisun Choi, Director of Intergovernmental Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea.

Tamar Zodelava highlighted the importance of the responsible and safe use of artificial intelligence in the public sector, particularly at a time when technology is increasingly transforming the delivery of public services and the way governments interact with citizens. She noted that, alongside the development of artificial intelligence, it is essential to establish appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms to ensure that technological progress is balanced with the protection of human rights, transparency, and a citizen-centered approach.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and the sharing of experience, noting that the Digital Cooperation Center established within the framework of the partnership between Georgia and the Republic of Korea is an important mechanism for strengthening cooperation in this area.

The event was held as part of government-level cooperation between Georgia and the Republic of Korea, with the main objective of sharing experience in the use of artificial intelligence in public administration and exploring new opportunities for bilateral partnership.

Forum participants discussed AI governance issues in light of the experiences of Georgia and the Republic of Korea, as well as opportunities for the practical application of artificial intelligence in the public sector. Discussions also focused on the development of trusted digital infrastructure as a foundation for creating secure and scalable AI-enabled public services. Participants addressed challenges associated with the implementation of artificial intelligence in the public sector, including security, accountability, policy, and regulatory issues, and identified areas for joint initiatives.

The forum was held within the framework of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea. Representatives of relevant government agencies, local authorities, and organizations associated with the public sector from Georgia and the Republic of Korea participated in the event.

The forum focused on sharing experience and professional practices between representatives of the Georgian and British legal professions, strengthening professional ties, and discussing areas for future cooperation. Key topics included cross-border business activities, the practice of applying English law, and dispute resolution mechanisms, including international arbitration.

As part of the event, Beka Dzamashvili conveyed a message from the Minister of Justice to the participants and highlighted the importance of maintaining regular dialogue between members of the legal professions of Georgia and the United Kingdom. He noted that meetings in this format facilitate the exchange of experience and strengthen practical cooperation on international legal matters.

Following the forum, a bilateral meeting with British lawyers was held at the Ministry of Justice. During the meeting, the First Deputy Minister briefed the guests on the activities of the Ministry of Justice, its priority areas, and its future plans.

The discussion covered the Ministry's work in protecting the interests of the state before international courts and in international arbitration proceedings. Particular attention was drawn to the Ministry's role not only in managing international disputes and representing the state, but also in preventing potential disputes and mitigating legal risks.

Beka Dzamashvili also spoke about reforms implemented in the judicial system and progress made in the field of human rights protection. The meeting also highlighted the declining trend in the number of cases pending against Georgia before the European Court of Human Rights. The discussion further addressed the importance of continued development of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation and arbitration.

The meeting at the Ministry of Justice was also attended by Irakli Kandashvili, Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association; Ana Ivanishvili, Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations and Legal Cooperation of the Ministry of Justice; and Mariam Antia, Head of the Department for State Representation in Arbitration Proceedings and Foreign Courts.

Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia Giorgi Dgebuadze, together with a delegation from the Ministry of Justice, participated in the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

In his address to the Congress, Giorgi Dgebuadze highlighted the reforms undertaken in Georgia in the areas of crime prevention and the rehabilitation and social reintegration of offenders, including diversion and mediation programs, as well as initiatives aimed at the rehabilitation and support of juveniles.

The Deputy Minister of Justice also took part in a session dedicated to strengthening international cooperation in criminal matters. He emphasized the importance of mutual legal assistance, extradition, and the transfer of sentenced persons for the continued enforcement of their sentences, as well as the need for close cooperation among countries to effectively combat transnational crime.

On the margins of the Congress, the Georgian delegation held bilateral meetings with delegations from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Italy, and Japan, as well as with representatives of the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (SII), a participant in the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program Network (PNI), with the aim of further strengthening cooperation.

The delegation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia also included Giorgi Lomtadze, Head of the Analytical Department; Giorgi Sajaja, Head of the Legal Entity under Public Law – National Agency for the Prevention of Crime, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation; and Iason Nachqebia, Head of the Analytical Department of the Agency.

The XI International Scientific Conference - Archival Studies and Source Studies — Trends and Challenges has opened at the National Archives of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. This year’s conference is dedicated to the 1,700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia.

By embracing Christianity and proclaiming it the state religion, Georgia chose a spiritual path that shaped the country’s culture, thought, state development, and values. Its influence can be seen in architecture, painting, religious chant, literature, and other fields of cultural life.

The conference was opened by Deputy Minister of Justice Tamar Zodelava and Director General of the National Archives Teona Iashvili. The participants were also welcomed by Claudia Rapp, Professor at the University of Vienna and Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and Ketevan Asatiani, Head of the Scientific Department of the National Archives.

More than 40 Georgian and international scholars are taking part in the conference. They will present the latest research on the spread of Christianity in the South Caucasus and its proclamation as the state religion, examining these developments in the context of parallel processes in the Roman and Sassanian Empires and narratives that have emerged around the world.

The presentations will address the work of Christian missionaries, the development of monasticism, the organizational transformation of the Georgian Church, liturgy, and the history of saints and religious feasts. Particular attention will be given to the role of Christianity as a literate religion, as well as to Christian art and culture, medieval historiography, and perceptions of religion in the late medieval and modern periods.

The conference will be held at the National Archives of Georgia through 3 October.

The meeting of the Coordination Council was chaired by Deputy Minister of Justice Tamar Zodelava and attended by representatives of the ministries and other state agencies represented on the Council. Established by a government resolution, the Coordination Council aims to support the establishment, operation and development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure in Georgia.

At the interagency meeting, the participants discussed a four-year strategy for the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, a one-year action plan, and nine draft sectoral regulations. The documents, which will be submitted to the Government for approval, were prepared by the coordinating agency—the National Agency of Public Registry of the Ministry of Justice—in close cooperation with the agencies represented on the Coordination Council.

Developed in line with international best practices, the regulations will establish a unified standard for the production and sharing of spatial data. As a result, data held by different agencies will be interoperable, eliminating duplication and saving both time and financial resources. In addition, the data will be compatible with the European Union’s Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) and can be easily shared through the National Geoportal.

The reform aims to introduce modern standards for the management and sharing of spatial data. As part of this process, and with the support of the World Bank under the Georgia Resilient Agriculture Irrigation and Land Project (GRAIL), the National Agency of Public Registry has created Georgia’s first multifunctional geoportal, NSDI.GOV.GE. More than 160 metadata records from around 30 agencies are already available to the public through the National Geoportal.

Accurate geographic data helps public and private sector stakeholders make informed decisions. This is important not only for planning infrastructure projects and business activities, but also for ensuring a rapid and effective response to crisis situations.

The Special General Meeting of members of the Notaries’ Chamber was opened by Deputy Minister of Justice Lana Morgoshia. She noted that the involvement of notaries and consideration of their views are important in the process of drafting and discussing amendments to the Charter. Notaries were given the opportunity to submit their proposals and comments.

Under the amendments to the Charter, candidates for the positions of Deputy Chair of the Board and Board member will be required to submit an application and an action program to the Chamber no later than 10 calendar days before the General Meeting. Following discussion, the proposed amendments to the Charter were approved by a majority vote.

At the meeting, alongside the amendments to the Chamber’s Charter, the notaries also discussed amendments to the Instruction on the Procedure for Performing Notarial Acts. Under the proposed changes, the number of Board members will be reduced from 11 to 7. The Board will include one member representing the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, one representing the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, one member representing municipalities in western Georgia, one representing municipalities in eastern Georgia, and three members representing notaries practicing in Tbilisi.

The meeting was attended by notaries and employees of the Notaries’ Chamber.

The Mobile Public Service Hall project of Georgia’s Public Service Hall has received a Good Practice Certificate as part of the European Public Sector Award (EPSA).

The official certificate presentation ceremony was held in Maastricht, the Netherlands, as part of EPSA 2025–2026. The ceremony was attended by Lana Morgoshia, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia; Vakhtang Zhvania, Chairman of the Public Service Hall; and his Deputy, Davit Vardosanidze.

EPSA is organized by the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA). Launched in 2009, the competition is held every two years and showcases innovative and effective practices implemented in the public sector.

A total of 134 projects from various European countries were submitted for the competition’s 10th anniversary edition. Following an assessment by an independent panel of international experts, the Mobile Public Service Hall project was recognized as an outstanding innovative practice. Particular emphasis was placed on the project’s significant contribution to public-sector reform and innovative development.

Through the Mobile Public Service Hall, access to public services in Georgia has been expanded on an unprecedented scale. The initiative delivers government services to citizens living in villages far from administrative centers and in high-mountain settlements. It enables them to access more than 500 government services closer to their homes.

The awarding of the Good Practice Certificate to the “Mobile Public Service Hall” represents international recognition of the project at the European level and an acknowledgment of its successful performance. It marks another international recognition for the team of the Ministry of Justice, which has developed an innovative model to improve citizens’ access to public services and enhance the quality of service delivery.

A delegation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia is on an official visit to Maastricht, the Netherlands, where it is participating in the 2025–2026 European Public Sector Award (EPSA) event.

As part of the visit, Deputy Minister of Justice Lana Morgoshia, Chairman of the Public Service Hall Vakhtang Zhvania, and his Deputy, Davit Vardosanidze, met with Dr Claudio Matera, Acting Director-General of the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA).

The parties discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in public administration, exchange expertise and experience, and implement joint programmes in the future. Dr Matera was briefed on the ongoing and planned projects of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Public Service Hall.

The meeting also focused on organizing study visits for Public Service Hall staff to European countries, professional exchange programmes, and tailored training based on their specific needs. The parties further discussed the possibility of EIPA experts visiting Georgia to gain first-hand insight into the Public Service Hall’s operations and innovative services.

A meeting was also held with Péter Vidos, Adviser to the Chief Executive Officer of the Hungarian Digital Agency, during which the parties discussed the introduction of innovative approaches. Mr Vidos was briefed on the projects of the Ministry of Justice and the Public Service Hall, including opportunities for using artificial intelligence and modern technologies at the Public Service Hall.

The parties agreed to strengthen cooperation and develop a long-term partnership.