title: Khatuna Kalmakhelidze
text: # Khatuna Kalmakhelidze
  
  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.
  
  ## Early years
  
  Kalmakhelidze 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).
  
  ## Political career
  
  After 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. After taking office, Kalmakhelidze instituted reforms in the penitentiary system of the country, bringing 80% of the state prisons in line with European standards.
  
  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.
  
  Kalmakhelidze speaks English, German, French and Russian.
  
  