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Friday, 04 October , 2024
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Ministry of Justice Advances Key Infrastructure Projects in the Penitentiary System

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the rights and services available to convicts and staff, Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze inaugurated new facilities at Penitentiary No. 10 in Ksani.

The newly built infrastructure includes a Public Service Hall, dedicated meeting rooms for lawyers, spaces for both long- and short-term visits, and a video conferencing area.

This upgrade ensures that both inmates and staff can fully access state and private sector services within the institution. The Ksani facility is the sixth penitentiary to feature a Public Service Hall, a project that is unparalleled worldwide.

Convicts at Penitentiary No. 10 will now benefit from improved, comfortable meeting spaces, equipped with the necessary amenities for both long and short visits. The infrastructure aligns with the 2024 Penal Code, which permits inmates to use these meeting spaces free of charge.

Additionally, a new, state-of-the-art storage facility has been installed to better control the introduction of prohibited items. Access to the institution is now further secured with the installation of a modern scanner and a designated room for the physical inspection of visitors.

The inauguration was attended by Deputy Minister of Justice Erekle Gvinianidze, Head of the Special Penitentiary Service Nika Tshvarashvili, and Chairperson of the Public Service Hall Lasha Lobjanidze.

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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.