Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.

The conversation focused on the Georgian Government’s efforts toward protecting human rights. Irakli Garibashvili thanked Dunja Mijatović for the contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in cementing human rights and democratic development in Georgia, also pointing out that Georgia remains committed to the key priority of protecting fundamental human rights.

One of the key priorities of the Government is to ensure a healthy environment for every citizen, the Prime Minister emphasized. PM focused on reforms and legislative amendments made by Georgia in recent years. He declared that the Government Administration, in cooperation with the Office of the Public Defender, NGOs, and international partners – is working on the second Human Rights Strategy for 2022-2030. Irakli Garibashvili underlined that the Georgian Government prioritizes freedom of expression and freedom of the press, guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia.

The conversation also revolved around the dire humanitarian and human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Irakli Garibashvili thanked Dunja Mijatović for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and reiterated the Georgian Government’s commitment to the policy of peaceful conflict-resolution.

The Prime Minister and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights also discussed the security environment and relevant challenges in Eastern Europe. Irakli Garibashvili emphasized that Russia’s steps toward the occupation of Ukraine and Georgia undermine Europe’s security and rules-based international order.