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Minister of Justice Congratulates Special Penitentiary Service Employees on Professional Day

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Tuesday, 10 September, 2024
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Minister of Justice Congratulates Special Penitentiary Service Employees on Professional Day

Rati Bregadze extended his gratitude to each employee of the Special Penitentiary Service, recognizing their dedication and hard work. During the ceremony, 21 employees were honoured with special awards and certificates for their exemplary performance. Minister Bregadze highlighted the crucial role the Special Penitentiary Service plays in maintaining state security and law and order, and commended the agency for its effective execution of this vital mission.

The Minister took the opportunity to present the achievements of the Special Penitentiary Service to the event's guests. He emphasized that one of the Ministry of Justice’s primary concerns is the well-being of those responsible for executing sentences. Improving working conditions for employees remains a top priority.

Over the past decade, significant advancements have been made, including a 118% increase in salaries. Employees now benefit from free meals, health insurance, safe transportation, modern sports facilities, and training spaces. Additionally, ongoing retraining and professional development programs are actively implemented.

Minister Bregadze reflected on the state of the penitentiary system before 2012, noting that the era of systemic abuse and inhumane treatment is now a thing of the past. Today, Georgian prisons are considered among the best in Europe, showcasing the human-centered approach of the current government.

According to Rati Bregadze, one of the most accurate examples of the human face of the current government is the penitentiary institutions.

The Minister also expressed gratitude to prisoners who have set positive examples through successful re-socialization.

The Minister of Justice highlighted the unique educational opportunities available in prisons, such as higher education through the Digital University—recognized as one of the top innovative projects by EuroPris—vocational training in marketable skills, and participation in various sports activities. Additionally, prisoners have access to government services through the Public Service Hall, a global innovation.

Significant progress has been made in penitentiary healthcare, including the eradication of tuberculosis and the implementation of a Hepatitis C elimination program. An innovative online clinic service now allows prisoners to consult with external specialists remotely.

The infrastructure of penitentiary institutions has also seen improvements, such as the opening of Laituri prison, which meets European standards and CPT recommendations, and the nearing completion of a new small penitentiary facility in Rustavi.

A new penitentiary code has been enacted to enhance the working conditions of Special Penitentiary Service employees and improve the legal status of individuals in penitentiary institutions. According to Minister Bregadze, the benefits of the new Penal Code are already evident to all prisoners.

The Head of the Special Penitentiary Service, Nika Tsvarashvili, also spoke, emphasizing the vital role of ordinary employees in the system's success.

The event took place at the Saakadze Training Base of the Justice Training Center, a unique regional facility for universal and specialized training courses. Attendees included the Deputy Minister of Justice, Heads of the Special Penitentiary Service and the Ministry

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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