Within the Ministerial Hour, MPs heard the Interior Minister, Vakhtang Gomelauri informing the Parliament about the activity of the Ministry for 2020 and 2021, briefly introducing the structural reforms in the organization. 2020 was a hard year, the reporter noted, and we still encounter the pandemic with the Interior Ministry playing the key role in this process.

“We still encounter the pandemic and the role of the Interior Ministry in this process is important. At the same time, the Ministry keeps countering the crime and providing the citizens with the necessary services. Despite the pandemic-related difficulties, the Ministry keeps an effective activity to ensure the public order and security”.

He overviewed the criminal situation in the country and noted that the registered crime was reduced by 12% in 2020 compared to 2019.

Respective information is available uploaded on the website of the Ministry on monthly basis. The categories of crimes like attempts of murder, burglary, theft etc. have been reduced, while the index of the cyber-crime increased, which is a global challenge. The facts of domestic violence have become frequent as well. The penalty for raping the minors becomes stricter and envisages life imprisonment; in view of prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, the Ministry undertakes the e-monitoring; the drug-dealers remain the top priority for the Ministry and the uncompromised fight against the mob law continues as well; in terms of the cyber-crime, the Ministry takes effective steps by setting the special division and arresting 152 offenders; the Emergency and Strategy Pipeline Protection Departments keep effective activity in various directions etc.

The criminal police are under reform to result in the higher-qualification investigators, operative officers etc.

The patrol police, simultaneously countering the pandemic, respond to the crimes and offenses, control the adherence to the quarantine and isolation rules etc. Uniform Service Centers are to be open in 2021 in Shida Kartli and Kakheti regions.

The border protection mechanisms will as well be enhanced and the Border Sector on Akhaltsikhe and David Gareji territories will be soon built.

As to countering the pandemic, the respective units manifested the best model of efficiency.

The challenges remain, the reporter noted, and the Ministry keeps further reforming for addressing the problems.

MPs expressed their positions.

According to the co-reporter, Chair of the Legal Issues Committee, Anri Okhanashvili, the report was interesting answering all the questions.

“This hearing is a good example of accountability to the Parliament and MPs, high responsibility of the Minister and his team to answer all the questions”, - he stated.

According to him, the Ministry is composed of professionals: “We estimate the activity of the Ministry based on two key criterion – public security and public order as the Ministry is responsible for these two directions. However, there are other directions as well: public safety and prevention of threats, protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, prevention of crime, detection of crime and due response, and participation in emergency situations – these are the directions within the activity of the Ministry and Police and they demonstrated high professionalism”.

He stressed certain examples and stated that some categories of crimes have been drastically reduced in 2020. The tie one challenge in 2020 was the pandemic and the Ministry is engaged in countering the pandemic at the price of lives and health of every policeman. Countering organized crime is another merit of the Ministry as it is related to the EUAA commitments.

The opposition MP David Zilpimiani responded to the report and stated that it is important to ensure the safety of the police and the conflict between the police and society shall be prevented.

According to the Chair of the Defense and Security Committee, Irakli Beraia, the Ministry and the Police deserve high gratitude: “As the report reveals, we highly estimate the activity of the Ministry and condemn the radical insults and menace towards the police, attempts to discredit the policemen and distribution of disinformation. We call on every radical subject to abstain from abusing the patience of the police. We strongly support our policemen”, - he stated as their activity carries high responsibility: “The police and rescuers risk their lives to protect our lives, health and to ensure order. We witnessed appalling cases as well, claiming the lives of the personnel of the Ministry and society shall know their names: senior expert of forensics Department of MIA – Police Major Saib Geidarov, Emergency Department fire-man and rescuer, senior sergeant Tornike Kiparodize. Their names will be commemorated forever”.

As I. Beraia added, 2020 was successful in terms of countering organized crime, illegal drug distribution, trafficking, cyber-crime etc.

“The report, other than the high standard of responsibility, demonstrated the efficiency, productivity of every department. It is expressed in the reduced crime by 12%, reduced facts of burglary and theft, successful anti-pandemic measures, and positioning of Georgia at the international theatre. Georgian police, rescuers and fire brigades are everywhere where they are needed”.

According to the Chair of the Faction “Georgian Dream”, Mamuka Mdinaradze, all questions have been asked today.

“I would like to sincerely thank all rescuers and firemen, officers of 112, criminal police department, patrol police etc. for their heroism they demonstrate on daily basis. But if this system has not a dignified leader, then the system cannot due operate. We witnessed a different situation in the past. Today, when MIA is composed of professionals, the police are more proud. The system is a good model of humanity and strict protector of the law”.

It is categorically unacceptable what we witness – insult against the police, which unfortunately often comes from so-called politicians within or beyond the country.

“Our policemen do not deserve the insults as these are the people deserving respect and gratitude since they risk their lives on a daily basis and sacrifice themselves for the country. There is no remuneration or salary to meet their devotion and loyalty. So, we need to express our support to these people”.

Society shall know the truth as every citizen can see the difference between the past and the present, can see that the police today are more human and that their protection standard is higher.

Thus, the plenary session was accomplished.