The Parliament of Georgia started to discuss annual report of Legal Aid Service. On March 9, the first hearing was held at the Civic Integration and Human Rights Protection Committee. The LAS director, Meliton Benidze summed up activities of the past year and informed MPs about rendered legal aid, as well as institutional reforms carried out inside the Service.
(See: 1. Presentation of the Report / 2. Full version of the Report)
Basing on the statistical data, Legal Aid Service accepted up to 11 thousand cases in 2014. The Service rendered more than 20 thousand consultations and drafted more than 3700 legal documents. 22 accused were fully acquitted and 18 accused received partial acquittal. The criminal prosecution against hundreds of persons was stopped. The legal aid became accessible in the 18th region, in Sachkhere. Besides, legislative amendments were made which envisage implementation of free advocacy service not only on criminal, but also on certain categories of civil and administrative cases from April 15, 2015.
At the end of the report, Meliton Benidze answered the questions regarding challenges of the Service. The chairman of Civic Integration and Human Rights Protection Committee, Eka Beselia highly evaluated the activity of the Service and expressed satisfaction towards the detailed information and data presented in the report.
In the framework of the parliamentary discussion, one more hearing is planned at the Legal Issues Committee. After this, the director of the Service will present the report at the plenary session of the Parliament.
Legal Aid Service operates since 2007. In 2014, status of the Service changed. It left the system of the executive power and became accountable before the Parliament of Georgia.