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.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has confirmed that Davit Kezerashvili misappropriated state funds allocated for the Georgian military during his tenure as Minister of Defense. Furthermore, the court ruled that his case does not constitute political persecution.

The Ministry of Justice will hold a briefing on this matter today at 15:00.

The positions of Deputy Minister of Justice were held by Beka Dzamashvili, Niko Tatulashvili and Erekle Gvinianidze.

Beka Dzamashvili, a Doctor of Law, brings extensive experience in both the Ministry of Justice and academia. He has been serving as Deputy Minister since 2021.

Niko Tatulashvili, also a Doctor of Law, has a distinguished career in public service. Since 2021, he has served as an advisor to the Prime Minister on human rights issues.

Erekle Gvinianidze, a lawyer by profession, has held several key positions within the Ministry of Justice over the years. He has been a Deputy Minister of Justice since 2022.

Anri Okhanashvili officially began his duties as Minister of Justice by visiting various departments to familiarize himself with the working environment. During his visit, he personally engaged with employees, showing interest in their individual needs and professional concerns.

The Minister highlighted the significance of employees' initiatives in achieving the Ministry's strategic goals and ensuring the effective execution of its responsibilities.

The previous day, Okhanashvili held a working meeting with senior officials of the Ministry and representatives of the Legal Entities of Public Law (LEPLs) under its jurisdiction. He was formally introduced to the Ministry’s team by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

"Anri Okhanashvili needs no introduction. He is among the finest and most accomplished lawyers in Georgia. He obtained a robust legal education, graduating from Tbilisi State University before earning a master’s degree at the University of Jena, Germany, and completing a doctoral dissertation at Humboldt University in Germany. Since 2017, he has served as a member of the Georgian Parliament, excelling in his role as Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee. His contributions have been exceptional across all areas of his work. Anri Okhanashvili is also an Associate Professor at Tbilisi State University and the author of numerous scholarly publications. I am confident he will excel as Minister of Justice. I wish him great success in this important role.” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to outgoing Minister Rati Bregadze for his service.

The newly proposed government lineup will be presented to Parliament today for approval.

The inaugural session of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Coordination Council took place under the leadership of Tamar Tkeshelashvili, First Deputy Minister of Justice and Chairperson of the Council. The meeting brought together heads of member ministries and representatives of various state agencies.

Along with the Strategy and Action Plan, the Council reviewed and adopted nine sectoral specifications and technical regulations. These drafts were prepared by the coordinating agency of the NSDI - the National Agency of Public Registry under the Ministry of Justice, and refined based on feedback and recommendations from the Council's member agencies.

The legal and technical regulations, developed with reference to international best practices, aim to establish unified standards for the creation and exchange of spatial data nationwide. These standards will ensure that data from different agencies are interoperable and compatible, both domestically and with the European Union’s Spatial Data Infrastructure (INSPIRE).

The Coordination Council was established by government resolution in accordance with Georgia's Law on the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Its mission is to support the development, operation, and expansion of the NSDI, thereby advancing e-governance and public administration.

A fully operational NSDI will enhance governance at the national, sectoral, and municipal levels, promote the growth of location-based services, and facilitate data-driven decision-making in the private sector.

Notably, the National Agency of Public Registry is also tasked with creating the NSDI National Geoportal. This platform will provide public access to spatial data produced in Georgia, aligning with the standards and requirements of the EU’s INSPIRE framework.

Following the Council's discussions, the strategic, sectoral, and technical documentation of the NSDI will be submitted to the Government of Georgia for final approval.

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.

The members of the commission were briefed by representatives of the Central Election Commission on ongoing election disputes within the general courts and the election administration.

The meeting of the Interagency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) was chaired by the Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze. It was attended by heads of public agencies that are part of the commission, along with representatives from international and local monitoring organizations, as well as political parties.

The IATF, established under the Election Code, aims to prevent violations of election legislation by civil servants and to respond to any reported infractions. The task force is led by Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze.

Individuals can share information relevant to the commission's responsibilities via email at iatf@justice.gov.ge or through the hotline at (+995) 599 85 00 11.

The task force will conclude its operations after the Central Election Commission officially publishes the final election results.

The 7th Ministerial Conference of the Budapest Process took place in Budapest, Hungary, where participating countries adopted a ministerial declaration and a 2025-2030 action plan for implementation.

Georgia’s delegation, led by First Deputy Minister of Justice Tamar Tkeshelashvili, participated in the conference. Tkeshelashvili addressed issues outlined in the ministerial declaration, underscoring the importance of collaboration among nations in migration management at both global and regional levels.

Also representing Georgia was Ambassador Tamar Liluashvili, alongside officials from Georgia's Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs.

The ministerial declaration and action plan address key topics, including the prevention of illegal migration, capacity-building for legal migration, migrant return and reintegration, leveraging migration’s positive impacts on development, and enhancing international protection and integration.

These documents result from the collaborative efforts of over 50 participating countries and 10 partner international organizations within the Budapest Process. The adopted action plan establishes priority areas for the region over the next five years.