Tbilisi conference adopts declaration for rehabilitation of inmates, probationers
The conference brought together high-ranking officials and experts from up to 20 foreign states, as well as top representatives of international organisations. Photo: Justice Ministry press office
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The international Conference on Innovations in the Rehabilitation and Resocialisation Process of Inmates and Probationers, hosted for the first time in Tbilisi, on Thursday adopted a 12-point declaration that will be used for rehabilitation of prisoners and probationers, the Georgian Justice Ministry said.
Summarising the work of the Conference, which opened on Wednesday and brought together high-ranking officials and experts from up to 20 foreign states, as well as top representatives of international organisations, Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said the event could lay the foundation for “many [instances of] interesting and successful cooperation”.
The Conference was organised by the Ministry of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia, with the support of the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services and the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Participants of the Conference are scheduled to feature in the opening ceremony of a training base of the Justice Training Centre in Tbilisi on Friday, the Ministry added.
Rati Bregadze, the Georgian Justice Minister, on Wednesday said comments by United National Movement, the largest opposition group in the country’s Parliament, that positioned the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili as the party’s leader were a “classic example of informal rule” in the group.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said the Georgian Government had demonstrated “progress” and development of the domestic justice and probation system over the years.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday hailed “major changes and improvements” ensured by the current Government in the domestic penitentiary system over the past 10 years in comments at an international conference on the topic, hosted in Tbilisi for the first time.
Rati Bregadze, the Georgian Justice Minister, on Tuesday said his body had implemented “all procedures” for termination of Georgian citizenship for Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of Georgia, who was in September sanctioned by the United States for his alleged links with Russian intelligence.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Friday told the Parliament a new agreement with the United States would allow extradition of inmates and convicts from the country to Georgia.
Ongoing reforms in Georgia’s penitentiary system, including efforts aimed at ensuring accessible education and digital university for inmates, were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the country’s Justice Minister Rati Bregadze and heads of the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons.