On April 25, the Ministry of Justice received notification from the European Court of Human Rights regarding the withdrawal of an appeal by Mikheil Saakashvili. Accompanying the notification was a letter from Saakashvili's legal representative, dated April 18, citing his client's decision to withdraw the appeal. Notably, the letter mentions that Saakashvili's current health condition is not deemed life-threatening.

The European Court has requested the Ministry of Justice to provide comments by May 10, if any.

Today, we have submitted a corresponding response, in which we emphasize that Saakashvili's health condition is not considered life-threatening. This was confirmed by the Strasbourg court itself on May 11, 2023, when Saakashvili's request for transfer to Poland, specifically to a clinic in Warsaw for treatment, was denied. Additionally, we have requested the European Court of Human Rights to inform us of the case's removal from the list of pending cases.

During the meeting with Otkurbek Dzhamshitov, Rati Bregadze emphasized the importance of deepening mutual cooperation and sharing experiences between the two countries in the realm of justice enforcement.

The Minister highlighted that one of the principal priorities of the Ministry of Justice is bolstering international cooperation. The agency actively engages with partner states to facilitate mutual legal assistance in both civil and criminal law matters, including extradition and the transfer of convicted individuals and aspects of serving their sentences.

Another crucial priority is advancing a penitentiary system that adheres to modern standards and offering alternative sentencing options, along with rehabilitation programs for convicts and probationers to support their re-socialization.

Moreover, Rati Bregadze underscored the ongoing reforms spearheaded by the Ministry of Justice, particularly in the realms of digitalization and cybersecurity.

Discussions at the meeting also revolved around the potential for knowledge exchange between the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, encompassing law enforcement practices, service accessibility, and digital innovations.

As part of his visit to Georgia, the Prosecutor General of Kyrgyzstan will also meet with the leadership of the Probation Agency and gain insights into the Georgian technological innovation ProbBox, which has garnered recognition from the European Probation Confederation (CEP) as a noteworthy European-scale innovation. The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili and Head of International Relations and Legal Cooperation Department, Ketevan Sarajishvili.

Beka Dzamashvili engaged in discussions with British legal experts aimed at bolstering sectoral collaboration between Georgia and the United Kingdom.

The Georgian party underscored the significance of knowledge exchange with Britain, particularly in areas such as refining the arbitration framework, facilitating state representation in foreign courts and arbitrations, and enhancing legal expertise in interpreting legal acts, statutes, international treaties, and agreements.

Both sides highlighted the importance of promoting English law in Georgia and enhancing familiarity with case law among legal practitioners.

The meeting was also attended by Head of the International Relations and Legal Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Justice, Keti Sarajishvili and Executive Director of the Bar Association, Giorgi Chekhani.

The Training Center of Justice unveiled this free course, aimed at all individuals interested in mastering Georgian and fostering its wider use.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Tornike Cheishvili, underscored the project's significance, particularly for diaspora members and ethnic minorities, during his presentation.

"At the Ministry of Justice, ensuring accessible state services is a top priority. Thus, enabling citizens to access these services without language barriers is crucial. That's why we've developed the first-ever online Georgian language course and a corresponding web platform at the Training Center of Justice. This initiative will empower citizens to learn Georgian, facilitating smoother communication when accessing services," Deputy Minister Cheishvili explained.

The Georgian language online course, spearheaded by the Training Center of Justice, received financial support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the German government. The Digital Governance Agency of the Ministry of Justice has crafted an online training platform accessible through https://eacademy.tcj.gov.ge/, offering course content in English, Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Ukrainian.

Comprising 20 comprehensive lessons, the course caters specifically to non-Georgian speakers. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate. The project's beneficiaries encompass:

• Members of Georgian diasporas worldwide
• Ethnic minorities within Georgia
• Asylum seekers in Georgia
• Individuals holding refugee or humanitarian status
• Those aspiring to attain Georgian citizenship
• Foreign nationals with a keen interest in Georgian culture

The event was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Justice; representatives of the executive government; Representatives of UNDP, State Language Department, German Embassy in Georgia, the Training Center of Justice and other invited guests.

Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, Beka Dzamashvili expressed gratitude to the forum participants for their two days of fruitful collaboration, emphasizing the pivotal role of such gatherings in fortifying the institutions of both nations and fostering positive transformations.

Addressing the forum, Deputy Minister of Justice, Buba Lomuashvili underscored the significance of digital innovations in the rehabilitation and re-socialization of probationers.

Head of the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia, Nika Tshvarashvili focused on the achievements in the penitentiary system at the thematic panel and shared his experience of the approach focused on the protection of human rights to his Armenian colleagues.

Head of the Department of International Relations and Legal Cooperation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Ketevan Sarajishvili contributed by sharing Georgian experiences in extradition and child abduction matters with Armenian colleagues.

Throughout the two-day forum, discussions delved into current accomplishments and forthcoming innovations, engaging representatives from various sectors including the Human Rights Protection Secretariat of the Government of Georgia, the Personal Data Protection Service, the Association of Mediators, the Association of Lawyers, and the Legal Aid Service.

During his meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Rati Bregadze underscored the close and amicable partnership between the two nations, a bond reaffirmed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's recent visit to Yerevan on March 25th, and earlier by the signing of a declaration of strategic cooperation between Georgia and Armenia on January 26th.

The discussion centered on the vital importance of fostering professional and legal collaboration within the region, along with a review of the progress made through various legal reforms to strengthen the rule of law.

In dialogue with Nikol Pashinian, Rati Bregadze highlighted Georgia's extensive experience in engaging with the European Union across diverse sectors, expressing readiness to extend this knowledge-sharing to Armenia.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Justice and the Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Armenia, Giorgi Sharvashidze.

During the meeting, Minister Rati Bregadze highlighted the pivotal role played by the Friendship Group, which operates between the parliaments of Georgia and the Republic of Armenia, in fostering robust ties between the two nations. He emphasized the regularity of thematic meetings held annually within this framework.

Bregadze further emphasized the significance of the 5th Legal Forum, noting its enhanced representation from both countries. The forum, attended by numerous legal professionals, reaffirms the enduring relevance of such platforms. Moreover, it serves as a valuable conduit for sharing best practices and fostering sectoral cooperation between the Ministries of Justice of Georgia and Armenia.

This week, the Ministry of Justice also hosted an inter-agency delegation from Armenia in Tbilisi. During the visit, Georgia shared its experiences regarding its journey towards closer ties with the European Union and ongoing dialogue concerning visa liberalization.

At the end of the meeting, Rati Bregadze wished Ruben Rubenian success in deepening the political dialogue with the European Union. The Minister expressed his readiness to share with his Armenian colleagues all the experiences and achieved results that Georgia has undergone in the process of rapprochement with the European Union.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Bregadze extended his best wishes to Ruben Rubenian for the successful deepening of political dialogue with the European Union. He expressed Georgia's readiness to collaborate with Armenian counterparts, offering to share experiences and achievements garnered throughout Georgia's EU rapprochement process.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Georgia's Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, Giorgi Sharvashidze.

During the 5th Armenian-Georgian Legal Forum, Rati Bregadze convened with his Armenian counterpart, Grigor Minasyan, to discuss pivotal aspects of their nations' strategic partnership and bolstering bilateral sectoral cooperation.

Emphasizing the imperative of legal stability within their established strategic alliance, Bregadze underscored the need to streamline legal frameworks between their countries, foreseeing beneficial ramifications for their respective economies.

"In nurturing a robust bond founded on mutual goodwill, we can fortify the legal underpinnings of our strategic ties, simplify inter-personal engagements, and drive economic growth," expressed Bregadze.

The dialogue encompassed attained milestones, ongoing institutional reforms, and forthcoming innovations within their respective Ministries of Justice. Additionally, to reinforce collaboration, the ministers explored novel initiatives aimed at enhancing national-level institutional efficacy and fostering regional communication and cooperation.

This year's Armenian-Georgian legal forum, is being held in Yerevan from April 11 to 12.

The fifth legal forum was opened by the Ministers of Justice of Georgia and Armenia. During the inaugural session, the Ministers elaborated on the significant reforms and accomplishments aimed at fortifying the rule of law within their respective nations.

Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze, underscored the pivotal strides taken towards enhancing the independence of the justice system. Furthermore, he emphasized the vital role of legal practitioners in bolstering the rule of law. Noteworthy among the reforms highlighted were innovative advancements within the Ministry of Justice, particularly in the realms of penitentiary and probation systems. Additionally, Minister Bregadze underscored sophisticated approaches to state service provision, aimed at fostering the growth and advancement of legal domains. These efforts include active engagement with the scientific community and academia in the formulation of legislative frameworks.

The legal forum stands as an exemplary platform for fostering collaboration among representatives from ministries of justice, investigative bodies, legal professionals, arbitration institutions, and other legal entities from both nations. It serves as a forum for deepening cooperation, exchanging experiences, and deliberating on specific initiatives.

Key figures from the Georgian Government Administration, Special Penitentiary Service, Personal Data Protection Service, Association of Mediators, Association of Lawyers, and Legal Aid Service are participating in the event. Along with thee Deputy Minister of Justice and representatives from the Ministry.

The legal forum is slated to span over two days.