Juvenile justice

Mkurnali fights to help Vlad continue his studies

Posted on 5th May 20255th May 2025 By Sarah.SGF

In Tbilisi, Georgia, we continue to support Mkurnali’s legal programme and the shelter that truly feels like home for former street children and families. Inga, a lawyer who defends young people in court, shared Vlad’s story, and Nino, Mkurnali’s director sent us news about the shelter.

Vlad, one of Mkurnali’s beneficiaries, reached out for Inga’s help. He signed up for vocational school but got accused of faking his high school diploma because of missing official stamps and a strange signature. His old school had merged with another, making things harder to confirm.

Acquitted for New Year

Posted on 19th February 202119th February 2021 By Sarah.SGF

In 2020 Mkurnali defended 37 cases. Twelve of these young people, who faced probable conviction were found completely innocent thanks to our lawyer’s intervention. Twelve received a suspended sentence, and the others were all given much-reduced sentences. We have the story of one of these cases for you today.

Mamuka has served a sentence for theft before, but since his release he has changed dramatically. He has married, had a child, trained as a heating installer and worked very hard. One day, when he was shopping at his usual grocery store he was arrested again for theft. Had Mkurnli not been able to confirm his alibi, he would now be facing four years in prison for something he did not do.