Irakli Kandashvili, Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association, met with Paata Salia, Minister of Justice of Georgia.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the legal profession, including the importance of upholding the principles essential to the effective exercise of the right to defence.

Irakli Kandashvili presented the Bar Association’s position on safeguarding the confidentiality of communications between lawyers and their clients. The Chairman noted that this principle is one of the most important safeguards for the effective exercise of the right to defence. It ensures free and confidential communication between a lawyer and a client, including the protection of information, documentation and written materials obtained or prepared for the purpose of protecting the client’s interests. Irakli Kandashvili emphasised that the safeguards provided for by law must also be effectively upheld in practice.

For his part, the Minister of Justice also noted that the freedom to practise law and the confidentiality of communications between lawyers and detainees are rights guaranteed by law. Paata Salia emphasised, however, that it is important to ensure that these safeguards are not used for the purpose of potential violations of the law in penitentiary institutions and that such cases are prevented.

During the meeting, the parties agreed to establish a working format that would facilitate the proper regulation of this issue in practice, ensuring full protection of lawyers’ professional activities and preventing any threat to the confidentiality of lawyer–client communications.