Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia paied a working visit to Strasbourg on December 11-12. InterPressNews was informed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs that within the frameworks of the visit Minister Gakharia held meetings with Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, PACE Secretary General Wojciech Sawicki, President of the European Court of. Human Rights Guido Raimondi, Secretary of the Venice Commission Thomas Markert and Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatović.

The working visit aimed to introduce the current reforms in the Ministry of Internal Affairs – “Systemic Renewal” concept to the European partners. The policy of the Ministry in terms of Human Rights, the measures, taken by it and the achieved results were also discussed within the frameworks of the meetings.

The launch of the human rights department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and its activities were highly appreciated during the meetings held at the European Council.

The issues related to the human rights violations in the occupied regions of Georgia as well as the factors hindering the work of international observation missions there were also discussed at the meeting.