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Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze, Welcomes Delegation from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)

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Monday, 18 November, 2024
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Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze, Welcomes Delegation from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)

The Minister of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze, hosted a delegation from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe during their 7th periodic visit. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing reforms in Georgia's penitentiary system and showcase the innovations introduced in response to recommendations from previous visits.

During the meeting, Minister Bregadze highlighted key advancements, including the adoption of the new Penal Code in 2023, which strengthens protections for the rights of convicts and accused persons, while also enhancing working conditions for penitentiary staff. He introduced the delegation to several innovative initiatives, including the Digital University, a project enabling inmates to pursue higher education remotely through daily interaction with lecturers. The Digital University was recently recognized as one of the top three projects by the European Organization of Prison and Penitentiary Systems (Europris).

The Minister also presented the Public Service Hall initiative within penitentiary institutions. This project provides up to 50 essential public services to inmates in seven facilities (Nos. 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 16). Additionally, he introduced the online clinic service, which ensures swift and effective access to medical care for inmates, and the Saakadze Training Base, which offers specialized training for staff across the Penitentiary Service, Probation Agency, National Bureau of Enforcement, and General Inspectorate.

Significant infrastructural advancements were also noted, including the opening of a modern penitentiary facility in the Laituri district in 2023, with another small-scale facility slated to open in Rustavi in early 2025. These upgrades align with the implementation of the penitentiary system’s Sports Strategy, aimed at enhancing physical and mental well-being within the facilities.

Minister Bregadze also emphasized the success of rehabilitation and resocialization programs for inmates, such as the Re-market project, which provides a platform for selling handicrafts made by convicts, fostering both skill development and economic opportunities.

The Minister highlighted a key achievement: since 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has not received a single case originating from Georgia’s penitentiary system—a testament to the country’s progress in ensuring the humane treatment of detainees.

The CPT delegation is set to meet with representatives from the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Health, the Special Investigation Service, and the Public Defender’s Office. They will also visit closed penitentiary and psychiatric institutions, as well as temporary detention facilities.

Deputy Minister of Justice Beka Dzamashvili, Director General of the Special Penitentiary Service, Nika Tshvarashvili, Head of the Department of International Relations and Legal Cooperation of the Ministry of Justice, Ketevan Sarajishvili and Head of the Medical Department of the Special Penitentiary Service, Malkhaz Urtkhmelidze were also present at the meeting.

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Minister of Justice of Georgia Meets with the President of the European Court of Human Rights

The Minister of Justice of Georgia, Paata Salia, met with the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Mattias Guyomar. During the meeting, the parties underscored that Georgia maintains effective and constructive cooperation with the Court at all stages of the proceedings.

The Minister highlighted the significant decrease in the number of applications lodged against Georgia before the ECHR, as well as the positive trends in the execution of the Court’s judgments.

Paata Salia emphasized the importance of the ECtHR’s decisions in the interstate cases brought by Georgia against the Russian Federation and expressed gratitude to President Guyomar for ensuring impartial and fair judicial proceedings.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Government Agent of Georgia before the ECHR, Beka Dzamashvili; the Permanent Representative of Georgia to the Council of Europe, Khatia Tsilosani; Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, Lado Chanturia; and the Court’s Deputy Registrar, Abel Campos.
11.12.2025
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The Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg Court Delivers a Judgement on the Cases of the June 20-21, 2019 Demonstrations

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in the case Tsaava and Others v. Georgia at a public hearing today, 11 December 2025. The case concerns the demonstrations of 20–21 June 2019 and the use of special means to disperse the protesters.

In its judgment, the Grand Chamber reaffirmed that the state has the legitimate right to resort to special means in situations involving attacks or assaults on law enforcement officers and state institutions. The Court also noted that the escalation of the June 20 events and the assault on the Parliament building were encouraged by opposition politicians.

The Court held that the use of force and special means should have been directed exclusively at demonstrators who engaged in violent actions. As the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the time failed to ensure adherence to this standard and did not guarantee the proportional use of force, the Court found a violation of Articles 3 (prohibition of ill-treatment), 10 (freedom of expression), and 11 (freedom of assembly) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Grand Chamber further noted that the Government of Georgia fully cooperated with the Court during the proceedings and provided all necessary information and materials. Consequently, the applicants’ complaint alleging a lack of cooperation was dismissed. The Court did not find it necessary to examine the complaint under Article 13 (right to an effective remedy).

Following the shortcomings identified in the Chamber’s judgment of 7 May 2024, the government initiated an investigation into the planning and execution of the MIA operation to determine its compliance with the standards established by the European Court.

As a result of this investigation, on 12 November 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia initiated criminal proceedings against the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Gakharia. The investigation is ongoing.
11.12.2025