Interior Minister gives 5th report to parliament, announces creation of modern criminal lab

Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia has reported to parliament for the fifth time this year, pointed at the importance of transparency and stated that a modern criminal laboratory will be built in Georgia, the only one of its kind in the South Caucasus.

Without modern infrastructure and technologies police activities are not as effective as they must be,” Gakharia said.

He stated that the criminal laboratory will have its own DNA lab.

Gakharia said that this year his body spend about 97 million GEL on the development of the police infrastructure.

He stated that all preliminary detention facilities in the country have been renovated and equipped with cameras. Doctors are also present in all such facilities.

At the end of 2017, 170 cameras were controlling streets in Georgia, now the number stands at 2,600. The figure will reach 5,000 at the end of the year,” Gakharia said.

Gakharia told the opposition that no special unit was sent to Pankisi last month and no special operation was conducted there. He said that police entered the gorge to calm situation, as this happens in other cases. Photo: Parlaiment's press office. 

He stated that the border police, which had a single helicopter, will have four helicopters this year.

Gakharia stated that nine emergency management facilities are being built in Georgian regions with modern equipment and vehicles.

Robbery as a challenge

Gakharia stated that the “precise crime statistics” provided by his employees revealed that 44 per cent of crimes committed in Georgia are crimes against property.

Of the 44 per cent, 70 per cent is robbery,” Gakharia said, noting that there is a need of changes in the criminal code to address the issue.

Need for additional patrol crews

Gakharia said that the number of patrol police employees has not been increased since 2010, when the number of registered vehicles in the period increased from 700,000 to 1,200,000.

It is necessary to increase the number of crews and we will appeal you [parliament] and the government for this,” Gakharia said.

He stated that unlike previous year, each employee of police now has clearly specified duties.

Gakharia said that the border issues with Azerbaijani will be settled in a friendly manner only. Photo: Parliament's press office. 

10 international raids in 2018

Gakharia stated that the Interior Ministry carried out 10 international operations last year, with 166 offenders detained.

Among the detainees ten were so-called Georgian criminal bosses,” Gakharia stated.

Coastal protection and NATO

Gakharia said that Georgia has no naval forces and stated that cooperation with NATO in this regard is crucial.

NATO Black Sea Security component is very important both for the state security and protection of our coasts,” Gakharia stated.

“No femicide recorded in 2018 during the presence of restraining orders”

Gakharia said that more than 6,000 restraining orders were issued last year and for the first time no femicide was recorded when such an order was present.  

He stated that now people are open to cooperating with law enforcers regarding family violence.

“Police is apolitical, they protect everyone”

Gakharia said that there is a tendency by some forces to discredit, politicize police or restrict the area of their activities.

I want to say that the police belong to each citizen and effective police is in the interests of each Georgian citizen,” Gakharia said.

Road safety

Galharia stated that the road safety is one of the top priorities for the Interior Ministry in the situation when hundreds of Georgians are killed annually in accidents.

 We lost more than 500 people in road accidents last year. The campaign by the Interior Ministry “For your Life” is very effective and more and more people get involved.

The minister urged public to be cautious to the issues related to borders or occupation lines.