Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance Dimitri Shashkini met with the Ambassador of Norway to Georgia, high officials of Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Police and representatives of Norwegian Mission of Rule of Law Advisers to Georgia (NORLAG). During the meeting the Norwegian delegation expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry and make its own contribution to improving the system.

2 more probationers have been employed through the mediation of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance. For this purpose, Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance, Dimitri Shashkini visited “Food Service” company. Distribution Company “Food Service” hired probationers as storage workers and they will get remuneration in the amount of 450 GEL per month.

The Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance, Dimitri Shashkini, opened a new rehabilitation centre at the Probation Bureau of Tbilisi. It aims at providing legal assistance and supporting re-integration process of the juvenile probationers. The Centre was opened within the framework of the project “Reform Options for the Penitentiary System and Probation System for Convicted Child Offenders in Georgia”, implemented by the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance and UNICEF with the support of the European Union.

Penitentiary Medical Establishments are provided with all necessary medicines in order to prevent the possibility of the seasonal infections. Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance together with the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and Pharmaceutical Company “PSP” provided medical establishments for convicts and prisoners with additional medicines, including antibiotics and “Tami flu”.

Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance started the project of replenishment of the libraries in penitentiary establishments. At first stage was renewed the library at Rustavi №2 General and Strict Regime Penitentiary Establishment. The first organization responding to the initiative of the Ministry was the charity organization “New Way of Life”.

Deputy Ministers and staff of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance visited Sapara and Zarzma Monasteries in high-mountainous Samtskhe-Javakheti Region and delivered the necessary supply of food to monks. Besides the monasteries were handed the endowment for firewood needed in winter period.