Conference “Jury Trials and the Importance of Civic Engagement in Georgia”

Grigol Robakidze University hosted the Conference “Jury Trials and the Importance of Civic Engagement in Georgia” in the frames of the “Pillar of Democracy” Project.

Through their opening remarks, Mamuka Tavkhelidze, Rector of Grigol Robakidze University, Sarah Rupert, Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Bureau at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, and Giorgi Tshekhani, Executive Director of the Georgian Bar Association, emphasized the importance of jury trials.

During the first panel, achievements and challenges of the Georgian Jury Trial System, were discussed by Patricia Wildermuth, Senior Judicial Advisor at INL, Ekaterine Gabrichidze, Judge of Tbilisi City Court, Lawyer Levan Makharashvili, and Prosecutor Marika Gogokhia.

During a roundtable discussion, Participatory Democracy and the Importance of Civic Engagement was analyzed by invited experts Brian Brandt and Melissa Beard and EPAG Members Lana Chkhartishvili and Davit Shervashidze. The conference was moderated by “Pillar of Democracy” Coordinator Nanuka Kruashvili.

The project team would like to thank all invited speakers and guests for their cooperation, and Grigol Robakidze University for hosting us.

The project is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi. The opinions expressed above belong to the program organizers, not to the U.S. Embassy.