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International innovation of the Ministry of Justice - Public Service Halls Open in Penitentiary Institutions

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Monday, 12 June , 2023
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International innovation of the Ministry of Justice - Public Service Halls Open in Penitentiary Institutions

Starting today, receiving the services of the Public Service Hall will be available for convicts at the place of serving the sentence. The project is a Georgian innovation and has no analogues in any country in the world. The first branch of the Public Service Hall was opened today by the Minister of Justice in the 16th penitentiary institution.

More than 50 services of the Public Service Hall are available to those in the penitentiary institution, including obtaining ID documents, birth registration, giving consent for issues related to minor children, issues related to citizenship, determining the status of a single parent, registering divorce, obtaining a certificate, getting registered as an entrepreneur and other. Convicted persons will be able to receive the service by prior reservation.

The branches will also serve the employees of the penitentiary service.

Until now, the persons in custody could receive the service either on the basis of a power of attorney issued to a third party, or by written communication with the Public Service Hall. In both cases, the service required a long time and insufficiently flexible procedures. After the opening of the branches of the Public Service Hall in the penitentiary system, services for convicts will be just as comfortable as for any visitor of the Public Service Hall, and the space intended for the service center is in full compliance with the interior of the Public Service Hall.

The opening of the branch of the Public Service Hall in the 16th penitentiary institution was attended by Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, Head of the Human Rights Committee of the Parliament, Mikhel Sarjveladze, the heads of the Public Service Halls, as well as the heads of the special penitentiary service, and invited guests.

Today, the branch of the Public Service Hall was also launched in the 5th (women's) institution of Rustavi and other branches will gradually open in other institutions as well.

The project is implemented within the framework of the bilateral cooperation memorandum signed between the Public Service Hall and the Special Penitentiary Service.

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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.
05.12.2024
05.12.2024