Nana Mchedlidze, Doctor of Law and Lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Tbilisi State University (TSU), visited Germany through the Erasmus+ programme. She was hosted by one of the country’s oldest higher education institutions – the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. During her visit, she delivered lectures for German students, professors, and researchers, while also gaining valuable insights into the international experience of her foreign colleagues.

“As a specialist in European human rights law, it was especially meaningful for me to work with Professor Joachim Renzikowski, who has first-hand experience in strategic litigation before the Strasbourg Court. Equally valuable was my meeting with Professor Christian Tietje, a distinguished scholar of European law,” noted Nana Mchedlidze, who has long been interested in studying the standards of reasoning applied by German courts.

During her stay at Martin Luther University, Nana Mchedlidze delivered two lectures to undergraduate students of Professor Renzikowski’s group. The discussions focused on the obligation of effective investigation and on the use of evidence obtained through covert investigative measures.

It is noteworthy that the TSU lecturer also attended lectures given by German colleagues. “It was fascinating to attend the lectures of Dr Robert Böttner, on the practice of the German Federal Constitutional Court. My doctoral dissertation – Standards of Reasoning under the European Convention on Human Rights – also concerns the compatibility of the Constitutional Court of Georgia’s proceedings and practice with the European Convention, so hearing the German perspective was extremely valuable to me. I also attended a lecture by Dr Björnstjern Baade on hate speech and social rights,” said Nana Mchedlidze.

Tbilisi University Newspaper’s interviewee fondly recalls the public lecture she delivered in Germany, moderated by Professor Tietje. “It was an extraordinary experience for me to stand before professors, doctoral candidates, and researchers of the host university and present original research I had conducted specifically for this occasion. The questions and comments that followed gave a special tone to my presentation, and I still remember with gratitude the attention and interest my talk received at one of Europe’s leading universities,” she told us. Her public lecture explored the balance between security and human rights, reviewing recent cases against Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries.

Dr Nana Mchedlidze expressed heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable support of the staff of TSU’s Department of International Relations –  Ms Tea Gergedava and Ms Irina Gamkrelidze  –  as well as the staff of the host university’s international department – Dr Azar Aliyev, Dr Liubov Zazulina, and Ms Katja Richter – whose assistance made it possible to navigate the “labyrinths of the exchange programme” and resolve all procedural matters without difficulty.

Nana Mchedlidze describes her one-week visit to Germany as one of the most impressive experiences of her professional life. “When you have the opportunity to share your knowledge in a different cultural and academic environment – when you see that your examples and experience are interesting and valuable to foreign students and researchers – it gives you even more motivation to keep developing,” she said.

Alongside the academic enrichment, she emphasises the human connections and the kindness shown by her host professors: “They received me as their colleague, offered me workspace, and were attentive throughout the visit. Professor Renzikowski showed me around the university’s historic buildings... This experience made me realise that international cooperation cannot be measured solely by official documents – it is built on trust and mutual respect between people.”

The visit to Germany served to deepen academic cooperation between TSU and Martin Luther University and to promote the exchange of valuable expertise in the field of human rights protection. The partnership between the two universities continues actively.

Tbilisi University Newspaper

The Newspaper Has Been Published Since 1927

Author: Nino Charkviani

Editor in Chief: Nino Kakulia

Date: 5 November 2025