Foreign Delegation introduced to the Georgian model of Legal Aid Service

A joint delegation from the Ukraine, Indonesia and Bangladesh visited Tbilisi to study the Georgian model of legal aid service. The guests met with Giorgi Arsoshvili, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia and visited the LAS central and regional offices. The visit was carried out with the support of the Open Society Institute.

Giorgi Arsoshvili introduced the delegation members to the priorities of Georgia's legal aid reform and stated that the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia is working actively with a view to increase access to legal aid and improve the quality of legal aid service.

LAS director Irakli Kobidze, discussed in detail how the LAS functions, the professional development of LAS lawyers and other activities, while the guests were informed about LAS specificities, legal consultations and the drafting of documents during the visit to the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Legal Aid Bureau.

Thousands of citizens manage to settle their problems annually with LAS's assistance. According to the research and international organizations, satisfaction LAS's services and public trust in LAS is high.

The legal aid model used in Georgia is considered to be exemplary within the post-Soviet countries. Georgian specialists share their experience with foreign colleagues in different forms. This past year, a Kazakh and Jordananian delegation visited Tbilisi with an introductory visit. This year, upon the initiative of Georgia, an international document was adopted obliging UN member states to ensure access to legal aid in criminal cases.

It should be noted that the Open Society Institute is the main supporter of legal aid reform in Georgia and in other countries.
(MCLA)