Khatuna Kalmakhelidze (Georgian: ხათუნა კალმახელიძე; born February 11, 1979) is a Georgian politician who served as the Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance from December 2009 to September 2012.[2]
Khatuna Kalmakhelidze ხათუნა კალმახელიძე | |
|---|---|
 Kalmakhelidze (left) meeting US Ambassador to Georgia John R. Bass | |
| Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance | |
| In office December 21, 2009 – September 19, 2012 | |
| President | Mikheil Saakashvili |
| Preceded by | Dimitri Shashkin[1] |
| Succeeded by | Giorgi Tughushi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 11, 1979 Tbilisi, Georgia SSR, Soviet Union |
Early years
editKalmakhelidze was born on February 11, 1979, in Tbilisi, Georgia. She graduated from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science cum laude and minored in Economics. From 2005 until 2007, she studied at Elliott School of International Affairs in George Washington University, obtaining her Master's in International Affairs and International Security. While in the United States, Kalmakhelidze also worked at the Georgian Mission to the United Nations. In 2006, she worked at Political Finance Research Unit of International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES).[3]
Political career
editAfter returning to Georgia, Kalmakhelidze was hired as the Deputy Political Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. On December 21, 2009, she was appointed Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance.[3][4] After taking office, Kalmakhelidze instituted reforms in the penitentiary system of the country, bringing 80% of the state prisons in line with European standards.[5]
Kalmakhelidze filed resignation on September 19, 2012, amid a public outrage after a video footage of inmates being beaten and sodomized in a Tbilisi prison emerged a day earlier.[6]
Kalmakhelidze speaks English, German, French and Russian.[3][7]
References
edit- ^ "Ministry of Education and Science. Dimitri Shashkin". Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
- ^ "Government of Georgia". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ a b c "Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia". Retrieved 2011-03-29.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Geo Database". Retrieved 2011-03-29.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Хатуна Калмахелидзе: "Через два-три года в пенитенциарной системе бытовые проблемы будут полностью устранены"" [Khatuna Kalmakhelidze: "In two-three years, communal problems within the penitentiary system will be solved"]. Medianews. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ Prison System Minister Resigns. Civil Georgia. August 19, 2012
- ^ "Government of Georgia. Khatuna Kalmakhelidze". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-03-29.