The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, James Cleverley visited today the Digital Governance Agency as part of his official visit to Georgia. On the spot, the high-ranking guest got acquainted with the specifics of the computer incident assistance team's activities and information technology infrastructure monitoring systems.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, Erekle Gvinianidze, and the Chairperson of the Digital Governance Agency, David Nadirashvili thanked the guest for the support provided through the UK-Georgia Cyber Security Partnership Program.

Within the framework of the program, Georgia receives support from Britain for the implementation of the national cyber security strategy, the development of an interagency framework for sharing information, the development of public-private cooperation, and the raising of public awareness of cyber threats.

The meeting was also attended by Ambassador of Georgia to the United Kingdom, Sofia Katsarava, Chief of Staff of the National Security Council, Givi Tumanishvili and his deputy, Giorgi Ghibradze.

In order to inform the public, the Ministry of Justice clarifies that on November 29, 2022, the Ministry offered the convicted Saakashvili the opportunity to involve foreign doctors in the treatment process. The offer implies that the Special Penitentiary Service will not be against a foreign doctor invited directly by the convicted person or his family, who meets the conditions defined by the Georgian legislation, to participate in his treatment at the Vivamed clinic in Tbilisi, where the convicted Saakashvili is currently staying.

The title of the project is - Promoting the Integration of Harm Reduction Approaches into Penitentiary Institutions and Probation Programs.

The project envisions introduction and development of cooperation between the non-governmental organization Harm Reduction Network of Georgia and the re-socialization and rehabilitation and medical departments of the penitentiary service.

Awareness of drug offenders and probationers in penitentiary institutions will increase in terms of integration into harm reduction services, timely diagnosis and treatment services for communicable and non-communicable diseases. The implementation of the project is important for solving problems such as: prevention/avoidance of drug use and associated diseases, treatment-rehabilitation, reduction/avoidance of the spread of other diseases associated with injecting drugs and overdose; Improving health status and increasing knowledge in this direction.

The Ministry of Justice annually announces grant competitions for strengthening civil involvement in the agency's activities. Last year, the agency funded best 17 projects. Representatives of the Ministry of Justice regularly monitor and support the progress of the funded projects.

The Deputy Minister of Justice delivered a speech today at the 28th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Buba Lomuashvili provided the UN Committee with information about the reforms carried out by the Ministry of Justice in terms of the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. He paid special attention to the issue of access to services, which are provided by the Public Service Halls throughout Georgia; The innovative project - Mobile Public Service Hall, as well as Georgia's success in the fight against trafficking.

At the 28th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Georgian delegation was led by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Protection, Niko Tatulashvili. The delegation was composed of high-ranking officials of various ministries and state agencies.

The committee positively evaluated the reforms implemented by Georgia and emphasized the importance of adopting the Georgian Law on Persons with Disabilities and creating an inter-agency coordinating committee. The final opinions and recommendations will be published by the UN later.

Representatives of the Ministries of Justice of Georgia and Israel will hold a discussion on issues such as: electronic governance and digitalization of legal documents; digital governance policy; land and business registration procedures; electronic notary services; criminal law reform; juvenile justice; non-custodial sentences, diversion and mediation; Re-socialization and rehabilitation of ex-prisoners and probationers and others.

Participants of the event are: the Services Development Agency; the Chamber of Notaries; the Digital Governance Agency; the National Public Registry Agency; the National Agency for the Execution of Non-custodial Sentences, the Crime Prevention and Probation Center; As well as, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Supreme Court.

The professional seminar is the result of successful sectoral cooperation between the two countries, which has become more intensive in recent years. The close partnership of the Ministries of Justice of Israel and Georgia is defined by a memorandum of mutual cooperation and a joint declaration, which were signed by the Ministers of Justice of Georgia and Israel in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Among other activities, the Memorandum and Declaration, also envisions the sharing of knowledge and experience between agencies in the format of a professional seminar.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili opened the event today. "I am sure that the seminar will be the best platform for exchanging experience and deepening partnership between the parties," he said.

Representatives of the Ministries of Justice of Georgia and Israel will hold a discussion on issues such as: electronic governance and digitalization of legal documents; digital governance policy; land and business registration procedures; electronic notary services; criminal law reform; juvenile justice; non-custodial sentences, diversion and mediation; Re-socialization and rehabilitation of ex-prisoners and probationers and others.

Participants of the event are: the Services Development Agency; the Chamber of Notaries; the Digital Governance Agency; the National Public Registry Agency; the National Agency for the Execution of Non-custodial Sentences, the Crime Prevention and Probation Center; As well as, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Supreme Court.

As it is known to the public, on January 21, 2021, Georgia won a historic victory against Russia in the August 2008 war case at the Strasbourg Court, and it was confirmed that the Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia have been occupied by Russia since 2008. In the present case, Russia's responsibility for human rights violations committed in the occupied territories before the 2008 war was established for the first time. In particular, the petitioners Levan Mamasakhlisi and Grigol Nanava were illegally arrested and imprisoned in Dranda prison in Russian-occupied Abkhazia in 2001-2007 and 2003-2005. They were subjected to inhumane treatment and were not allowed to see their family members.

Taking into account the given facts and the evidence provided by the government, the ECHR found that Russia is fully responsible for these human rights violations committed against Georgian citizens, as it exercised effective control over Abkhazia even before the August 2008 war. The Strasbourg court emphasized that, according to international law, Abkhazia is an integral part of Georgia, although it has not been under the control of the central government of Georgia since the 1990s due to decisive military, economic and political interference by Russia.

In addition, by the same decision of the ECHR, the occupation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by Soviet Russia in 1921 and Russia's direct involvement in the military conflict in favor of the Abkhazians in the 1990s were already legally confirmed. In particular, the Strasbourg court concluded that in the mentioned conflict Abkhazians not only used Russian weapons and a significant number of Russians fought on their side, but without the direct involvement of Russian military units and combat equipment, it would have been impossible to end the conflict with a military victory for the separatists. At the same time, the European Court drew attention to the fact that a number of international sources point to the "ethnic cleansing" of Georgians during this conflict.

Consolidated legal positions and evidence of the Government of Georgia on the mentioned cases were sent in 2017. Among them are material from relevant national archives, reports and documents of international organizations, public statements of Russian government representatives, documents and Russian legislative acts, sources reflecting the "relationship" between the de facto "officials" of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation: information on the political, financial, military relations between them, and other types of close ties, passporting activities.

Thus, as a result of the reasonable and unrelenting struggle against de-occupation, which the Georgian government has been conducting since 2012, Georgia once again won an important victory, and this time the practice of the Strasbourg court confirmed the continuous line of occupation of Abkhazia by Russia before and after the August 2008 war, which also means that Russia is responsible for all other human rights violations committed on the territory of Abkhazia throughout this period.

For information, in the present case the ECHR found that in the territory of occupied Abkhazia, the Russian Federation violated the applicants' rights protected by Articles 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment), 5 (right to liberty and security) and 6 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention. Accordingly, Russia was ordered to pay 35,000 euros individually to Levan Mamasakhlisi and Grigol Nanava, and to reimburse costs in the amount of 23,300 euros.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) published a decision on the case "Mamasakhlisi and others v. Georgia and Russia", according to which the territory of Abkhazia was under the effective control of the Russian Federation even before the August 2008 war, and Russia bears full responsibility for human rights violations in occupied Abkhazia.

As it is known to the public, on January 21, 2021, Georgia won a historic victory against Russia in the August 2008 war case at the Strasbourg Court, and it was confirmed that the Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia have been occupied by Russia since 2008. In the present case, Russia's responsibility for human rights violations committed in the occupied territories before the 2008 war was established for the first time. In particular, the petitioners Levan Mamasakhlisi and Grigol Nanava were illegally arrested and imprisoned in Dranda prison in Russian-occupied Abkhazia in 2001-2007 and 2003-2005. They were subjected to inhumane treatment and were not allowed to see their family members.

Taking into account the given facts and the evidence provided by the government, the ECHR found that Russia is fully responsible for these human rights violations committed against Georgian citizens, as it exercised effective control over Abkhazia even before the August 2008 war. The Strasbourg court emphasized that, according to international law, Abkhazia is an integral part of Georgia, although it has not been under the control of the central government of Georgia since the 1990s due to decisive military, economic and political interference by Russia.

In addition, by the same decision of the ECHR, the occupation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by Soviet Russia in 1921 and Russia's direct involvement in the military conflict in favor of the Abkhazians in the 1990s were already legally confirmed. In particular, the Strasbourg court concluded that in the mentioned conflict Abkhazians not only used Russian weapons and a significant number of Russians fought on their side, but without the direct involvement of Russian military units and combat equipment, it would have been impossible to end the conflict with a military victory for the separatists. At the same time, the European Court drew attention to the fact that a number of international sources point to the "ethnic cleansing" of Georgians during this conflict.

Consolidated legal positions and evidence of the Government of Georgia on the mentioned cases were sent in 2017. Among them are material from relevant national archives, reports and documents of international organizations, public statements of Russian government representatives, documents and Russian legislative acts, sources reflecting the "relationship" between the de facto "officials" of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation: information on the political, financial, military relations between them, and other types of close ties, passporting activities.

Thus, as a result of the reasonable and unrelenting struggle against de-occupation, which the Georgian government has been conducting since 2012, Georgia once again won an important victory, and this time the practice of the Strasbourg court confirmed the continuous line of occupation of Abkhazia by Russia before and after the August 2008 war, which also means that Russia is responsible for all other human rights violations committed on the territory of Abkhazia throughout this period.

For information, in the present case the ECHR found that in the territory of occupied Abkhazia, the Russian Federation violated the applicants' rights protected by Articles 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment), 5 (right to liberty and security) and 6 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention. Accordingly, Russia was ordered to pay 35,000 euros individually to Levan Mamasakhlisi and Grigol Nanava, and to reimburse costs in the amount of 23,300 euros.

Rati Bregadze discussed the progress achieved in the fields of penitentiary and probation with Todd Robinson and representatives of the International Bureau of Cooperation with Anti-Narcotics and Law Enforcement Agencies (INL) of the US Department of State. Deputy Minister of Justice Beka Dzamashvili and US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan attended the meeting.

The conversation touched on such innovative projects as: Digital University, Remarket, Probbox, sports management system, the first penitentiary institution of European type in Laituri, etc. At the meeting, the importance of the partnership between the Ministry of Justice and INL in the ongoing process of reforms was emphasized.

The parties agreed that the American side will participate in the autumn conference organized by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, the main topic of which will be the implementation of digital services in the penitentiary and probation systems and the sharing of international experience in this regard.

By 2023, 220 women participants are registered in the conference. The conference will include sessions on women's leadership, challenges in law enforcement, human trafficking, drug enforcement and investigations, gender-based violence, and other topical issues.

The conference will last for four days. Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Non-custodial Sentences Enforcement and Probation, the Penitentiary Service and the Center for Vocational Training and Retraining of Convicts will participate in it.

The international conference - Women in the Law-Enforcement - opened today in Tbilisi. The event is organized by the US State Department's International Bureau of Anti-Narcotics and Law Enforcement Programs (INL), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the US Embassy.

US Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs and law enforcement agencies of more than 20 different countries are participating in the event.

Rati Bregadze spoke at the conference about the role and importance of a female lawyer in the field of law enforcement. The Minister noted that gender equality, women's empowerment and prevention of violence against women are strong foundations for ensuring the rule of law and sustainable development of the country.

"Our agency is one of those exemplary institutions where the representation of women in leadership positions is quite balanced. About 60% of the persons employed in managerial positions in the system of the Ministry are women", said Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze.

By 2023, 220 women participants are registered in the conference. The conference will include sessions on women's leadership, challenges in law enforcement, human trafficking, drug enforcement and investigations, gender-based violence, and other topical issues.

The conference will last for four days. Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Non-custodial Sentences Enforcement and Probation, the Penitentiary Service and the Center for Vocational Training and Retraining of Convicts will participate in it.

The new Penal Code was the subject of active discussion in the format of the inter-agency group under the Ministry of Justice (Parliament of Georgia, relevant ministries, State Security Service, Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, Office of the Public Defender, the Special Investigation Service) and the scientific-consultative council.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Tornike Cheishvili presented today at the committee hearing the planned changes to the penal legislation. The legislative initiative aims to codify the legislation in the field of penal law.

The Penitentiary Code will improve the working conditions of the employees of the Special Penitentiary Service and the legal status of persons in penitentiary institutions, including:

• The defendant will be granted the right to a lengthy appointment;
• All kinds of dating will become completely free;
• Except for high-risk convicts, everyone will have the right to receive higher education;
• The living conditions of accused and convicted persons will be equalized;
• All units of the penitentiary service will be given a special status, which will equalize and improve the conditions of employees;
• the circle of persons with special rank will be expanded;

In addition to the official and rank salary, the employees will receive a supplement for years of service.

At the first stage of the legislative reform, the Ministry carried out a critical analysis of the currently valid Prison Code and the Law of Georgia "on Special Penitentiary Service". Both the structure of the Code and its content were revised.

The new Penal Code was the subject of active discussion in the format of the inter-agency group under the Ministry of Justice (Parliament of Georgia, relevant ministries, State Security Service, Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, Office of the Public Defender, the Special Investigation Service) and the scientific-consultative council.