On February 27-28, the International Law Institute of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), in partnership with Case Matrix Network, hosted a dialogue meeting dedicated to the mechanisms of criminal responsibility for international crimes.
Along with TSU students and academics, the representatives of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs, Supreme Court, Public Defender’s Office and non-governmental organizations participated in the two-day meeting. The discussion focused on the issues of developing modern international criminal justice and using the complementarity principle in practice, as well as the mechanisms for national prosecution of international crimes and individual criminal responsibility for international crimes.
Academician Levan Aleksidze emphasized the importance of holding a proper discussion on international criminal law in Georgia’s academic space and developing Georgian-language high- quality academic and practical works in this sphere.
Assessing the legal and political context of important issues in international criminal law, Professor Ketevan Khutsishvili focused on the complexity in decision making and the role of professionals with theoretical and practical skills.
The participants of the discussion focused on a wide range of issues, among them the practice of documenting international crimes and storing documents; possibility of using alternatives for criminal prosecution of international crimes, etc. With the involvement of Georgian Young Lawyers Association, Article 42 of the Constitution and Human Rights Center, a part of the discussion was dedicated to the process of investigating international crimes committed during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 war, as well as the issues of fact-finding and filing individual lawsuits.
A presentation of a Georgian-language publication dedicated to the crimes against humanity was also held during the meeting.
The International Law Institute at the TSU Faculty of Law continues to research the theory and practice of international criminal law, to hold academic and practical discussions and promote capacity building in Georgia related to the sphere of international criminal justice.
