The CyberEast project, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe through its Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) based in Bucharest, Romania aims to support cyber resilience of the Eastern Partnership countries. The project builds on previous capacity building efforts in the Eastern Partnership region and on the good cooperation relationships developed along the years. What is less brought to the foreground, however, is the human factor and the work of individuals driving the progress forward in the country. In this interview you can meet Anano Grigalashvili working within the Project Management Division of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been a long-term partner to not only the CyberEast project but also to the previous projects in the Eastern Partnership Region of the Council of Europe. For this interview we spoke with Ms Grigalashvili about her involvement in drafting cybercrime policies that build on the Budapest Convention but also about being a woman in a male-dominated field of expertise.
C-PROC: Please introduce yourself and the work that you do. What are the reasons for your interest in cybercrime?
Anano Grigalashvili: My name is Anano Grigalashvili and I work within the Project Management Division of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. Since 2018 I am overseeing the implementation of four cross-departmental projects that are funded by international organizations and partner countries on topics such as organized crime, cybercrime, community-oriented policing reform, analytical capacity development. In my current role, besides coordinating the projects’ day-to-day activities, I take part in the elaboration of policy documents. Moreover, I am an active member of working groups for combating organized crime and fight against cybercrime. Recently, with the help of experts from the European Union and the Council of Europe, we elaborated a Cybercrime Roadmap on building sufficient capacity within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to fight cybercrime in line with EU standards. The Road Map will complement Georgia’s National Strategy and Action Plan on Combatting Organized Crime.
Cybercrime is a fast-growing crime, which is immune to border controls and poses a serious challenge to law enforcement agencies across the world. Cybercriminals use new technologies to perpetrate attacks against individuals, businesses, and governments. After I started working at the Ministry, the complexity of the investigation of these types of crimes and the harm they can bring to the victims worldwide became more apparent to me. This is why I decided to learn more about cybercrime and do my part in strengthening the Ministry’s capacities to fight against it.
Source: Conference on Cooperation with Foreign Service Providers organized by the Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe, 26 - 28 February 2020
C-PROC: You are currently involved in drafting cybercrime policies at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. As a policy maker, do you see the matters of fighting against cybercrime as current priorities of your institution in particular, and for the Georgian Government in general
A.G.: The cybercrime investigation is becoming very complicated without proper preparation and precautions. Combating cybercrime is one of the three main objectives of Georgia’s National Strategy for Combatting Organized Crime 2021-2024 and its Action Plan 2021-2022; both documents containing separate sections dedicated to cybercrime.
To make sure that the goals envisaged by the Strategy and Action Plan are met, the MIA, within the framework of Interagency Coordinating Council on Combating Organized Crime, established a cybercrime working group. The working group is comprised of the representatives of MIA’s relevant departments and other governmental agencies. It is responsible for coordinating cybercrime activities at the policy/strategic level and ensuring sustainability of initiated reforms.
C-PROC: It is still quite unusual to see ladies working in the field of criminal justice in the Eastern Partnership region, and especially on cybercrime. Could you please tell us if there are any challenges in your professional life related to this?
A.G.: I am a firm believer that ensuring gender equality and female representation is especially of high importance in a traditionally male-dominated field such as criminal justice and law enforcement.
The momentum toward creating more gender-balanced police undeniably helps to enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to make a positive impact in the communities they serve, since women bring a lot to the job.
I am proud to say that the Department within which I work is balanced in this regard. As a woman working in law enforcement, I strongly believe in the importance of the work that I do, together with my fellow female colleagues. My hard work and dedication to my job assures me that I am a valuable addition to the community.
Source: Project Management Division of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
C-PROC: As an overall/general assessment, what do you see as the biggest challenges for effective action against cybercrime in Georgia?
A.G.: Cybercrime is progressing at an exceptionally fast pace, with new trends constantly emerging. Complex criminal networks operate across the world, exploiting digital technology for criminal purposes. Their methods are becoming more and more agile and intricate.
The biggest challenge for law enforcement in Georgia and across the world is to keep up with the digitalization and progression of new technologies, which are constantly exploited by criminals. Cybercriminals continue to evolve, tailoring their attacks using new methods and means. Therefore, the greatest hazard for law enforcement is to properly defend against current threats and, at the same time, prepare for the evolution of cybercrime trends and methods over time.
C-PROC: Is there anything that the joint European Union/Council of Europe project CyberEast can do to support your work and make a difference in Georgia?
A.G.: In conjunction with existing challenges, it is vital to constantly develop infrastructural and institutional capacities of the Georgian law enforcement agencies. The joint European Union/Council of Europe project CyberEast is actively engaged in building the capacity of law enforcement personnel, as well as enhancing regional, international, and interagency cooperation concerning cybercrime. Another direction where we would welcome the project’s support would be in raising societal awareness on cybercrime threats.
The excessive use of mobile devices and the Internet increases the exposure of both individuals and organizations to cybercrime, which is why we need to make sure people understand the risks and take appropriate measures for their cybersecurity. The primary tool for the prevention of these types of crimes is undoubtedly education aimed at building greater awareness and knowledge.