Interior Minister announces national DNA database in Parliamentary update

Vakhtang Gomelauri, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, on Wednesday announced the commencement of efforts towards establishing a unified national DNA database aimed at enhancing investigation quality and efficiency. 

Last year, the expert-criminological department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated work on this endeavor, as disclosed by the Minister during his address in the Parliament’s Minister’s Hour session.

The DNA database will be developed under the auspices of the National Bureau of Forensic Expertise, named after Levan Samkharauli. Additionally, Gomelauri highlighted strides made by the Department of Human Rights Protection and Investigation Quality Monitoring in various areas, including combating early marriage, crimes involving minors, violence against women, as well as offenses rooted in discrimination and intolerance.

He also underscored collaborative efforts between the Ministry’s Academy and the Department of Human Rights Protection and Investigation Quality Monitoring to devise courses aimed at enhancing investigators’ qualifications. In his comments, Gomelauri announced an increase in the maximum pension limit for former law enforcement officers, raising it from 560 GEL to 1000 GEL.

In remarks on road accidents, the official stressed In 2023 the Ministry operationalized 883 video cameras, comprising 672 general vision cameras and 211 number recognition cameras, as part of the nationwide surveillance system. 

Additionally, 168 speed control sections covering a road stretch of 447 kilometers were activated across the country in 2023. Consequently, a total of 574 average speed control sections now span 2024 kilometers throughout Georgia, he added.