Tbilisi. HRHT responds to the yesterday's statement of "Tbilisi Pride" and fully joins to the organization's demands to the government. “This year, “Tbilisi Pride” refuses to hold a “March of Dignity” within the Pride Week in order to avoid tensions and polarization in the process of European integration. The Georgian queer community and their supporters are refusing to exercise their constitutional right to assemble, because the mobilization of aggressive, homophobic groups poses a potential threat to them again, as it did last year. This year’s Pride Week consists of closed events. Nonetheless, violent, pro-Russian groups continue to openly declare that they will obstruct the festival organizers and disrupt their events. It is critically important for the state to show political will, arrest both last year and this year’s organizers of the violence, and protect the festival. It is disturbing that peaceful groups have been forced to relinquish their rights to avoid confrontation, while violent groups continue their threats with open, aggressive texts. A special problem is still the discrediting calls of high-ranking government officials towards the organizers, activists and supporters of "Tbilisi Pride". The government is obliged to protect activists and human rights defenders. One of the important components of this protection is the public support of these groups. It is essential that high-ranking government officials condemn all crimes against human rights defenders and activists and, through their public calls, promote human rights activities, and in particular the protection of minority rights”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) publishes a statement. “Today Georgia is at a critical crossroads where the choice is only between freedom and authoritarianism. In this historical moment of Eurointegration for our country, the government of Georgia betrayed the firm will of the Georgian people, the Constitution, and the idea of freedom. By oligarchic rule and authoritarian inclinations, ruining democratic institutions and values, ignoring human rights, persecuting opposition, media and civil society, violence against minorities, abolishing justice, the endless propaganda of hatred and constant obstruction against the Western allies - the Government distanced Georgia from its European identity and pulled closer to Russia. Protection of the human and the country’s dignity, promotion of freedom and equality, and contribution to building a state based on these values have always been TDI’s aim. We think that now it is the primary obligation of each citizen, politician, media, public servant and any freedom-loving human to persistently protect the constitutional will of the Georgian people, to protect the European and democratic Georgia and not to allow our return in the Russian sphere of influence”. Read more… Source: tdi.ge

Kakheti. On June 17, 2022, the Public Defender’s monitoring group[1] monitored the Tsnori Nursing Home for Older People NNLE, located in the Sighnaghi district of Kakheti. The monitoring showed that the situation in the facility is alarming and the elderly are in degrading conditions. “The monitoring conducted by the Public Defender's Office revealed that the beneficiaries are in severe unsanitary conditions. There is an unbearable smell all over the building. No attention is paid to the hygiene of the beneficiaries. Most of them wear old, torn and dirty clothes. The facility does not provide personal hygiene items or support in observing personal hygiene. The interview with beneficiaries made it clear that they do not have the opportunity to take a shower. According to one of them, she has not taken a shower at all this year”… With regard to inappropriate conditions in the Tsnori Nursing Home, the Public Defender of Georgia appealed to the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and the Agency for State Care and Assistance for Victims of Trafficking to react to the above-mentioned violations urgently and to transfer the beneficiaries to other facilities immediately, where they will have decent conditions. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. HRC is concerned about the numerous cases of extradition of sentenced persons to the Russian Federation in recent years, which, according to the assessment of HRC, creates the worst practice of fundamental human rights violations based on political loyalty. HRC provided legal assistance to a citizen of the Russian Federation residing in Georgia, ethnic Chechen Ramzan Akhiadov, who was handed over by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia to the Russian Federation on September 19, 2019, despite the resistance of HRC and other human rights organizations. After the extradition, information about the situation of Ramzan Akhiadov in the Russian penitentiary institution is unknown up to this date. Read more… Source: www.hrc.ge

Tbilisi. On June 16, 2022, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) published a report on its ad hoc visit to Georgia, which along with a number of pressing issues, focuses on signs of informal criminal governance in prisons. “It should be noted that the ad hoc visit report of the Committee is in full compliance with the findings of the Public Defender's report regarding the informal governance in the penitentiary system. In the Committee's view, all three semi-open prisons (Nos. 14, 15 and 17) are large and the number of staff fails to ensure full control over the establishments. Inter-prisoner violence is frequent. Recidivists and first-time offenders are placed together. Under such circumstances first-time offenders risk much more being “enrolled”, willingly or not, to the informal “crime academy”. The delegation was concerned to observe obvious signs of the presence of informal prisoner hierarchy, such as typical symbols visibly placed above cell doors and on cell walls. Further, in all prisons there was a clear disparity in conditions between the cells: whilst most of the prisoners had to live in cramped and rather dilapidated accommodation, some of the inmates enjoyed relatively comfortable conditions, refurbished cells (with parquet or tiled floors) and a lot of non-standard equipment. A number of inmates confirmed to the delegation the existence of the hierarchy and the collection or rather extortion of money for the illegal prisoners’ fund (“obshchak”). It is also noteworthy that many prisoners appeared clearly afraid to speak with the delegation. The Public Defender’s Office will continue to monitor the penitentiary system for the purpose of the implementation of the recommendations and findings of both the Public Defender and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture”. Read more…  Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 15, 2022, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria met with the chancellor, administration and students of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, who have been holding protests for a month now. Students have several demands, including the right to take exams remotely and the availability of dormitories. Nino Lomjaria stressed that students do not ask for benefits in exams. They ask for assistance due to their social status, so that the studies and examinations could be adapted to their difficult socio-economic conditions, especially since thousands of them have their status suspended just because they failed to pay their tuition. At the meeting with the university chancellor, the Public Defender spoke about the importance of dialogue with students, stressed the need to adapt university policy to the student's needs and expressed readiness for mediation between the opposing parties. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The member organizations of the Media Advocacy Coalition appeal to th President of Georgia to consider and positively resolve the issue of pardoning Nika Gvaramia, General Director of Mtavari Arkhi, as the arrest of the Founder and General Director of Mtavari Arkhi, a broadcasting channel which expresses critical attitudes towards the government, poses a real threat to our country. Fair Criticism with regards to Nika Gvaramia's Detention has also been incorporated in The European Parliament resolution of 8 June 2022 “on the Freedom of the Media and the Violation of the Safety of Journalists” calling on the Georgian authorities to adhere to the highest standards of democracy, including the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, air and legitimate judicial process and other fundamental freedoms, including in the area of media freedom. “We appeal to you, as the Head of State of Georgia, to pardon Nika Gvaramia and by doing so fulfill your crucial role in easing the current political crisis in the country as well as in the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes the report on Drug Policy in Georgia. “The purpose of this report is to review the changes to the drug policy carried out in Georgia in 2021, identify existing challenges and assess the legal status of persons accused and convicted of drug-related crimes. During 2021, like in previous year, there were no major changes to the legislation on drug-related offenses, or there were no fundamentally different approaches introduced. The topic, in a broad political context, has lost its relevance and is not a priority topic for either the executive or the legislative bodies. Several fragmentary legislative changes were made in the reporting year that have not substantially changed the state’s pattern of behavior towards drug-related crime and drug policy issues. The state still does not show readiness for a fundamental transformation of drug policy, which is indicated by inconsistent changes in the legislation, which, on the one hand, slightly improves the state’s approach to drug users, and on the other hand, substantially aggravates the already severe penalties for specific drug-related crimes”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Day of Persons with Disabilities is marked on June 14 in Georgia. The aim of this day is to raise public awareness of people with disabilities and once again focus on the rights situation of these people. According to the Public Defender of Georgia, although some positive steps have been taken by the State in the recent period, full and effective protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is still problematic in the country. Read more…  Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. With the Assistance of “Rights Georgia”, an Iranian Citizen Won the Dispute in Tbilisi City Court. Mariam Magradze, a lawyer of “Rights Georgia”, represented the beneficiary interests before the Supreme Court of Georgia within the framework of the IOM project - “COVID-19 and Needs of Migrants in South Caucasus”, implemented with the support of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM). If you are a Migrant in Georgia and need legal counseling, please contact "Rights Georgia": at +995 577 28 22 77 Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Fair Labor Platform expresses its solidarity with nurses who are organizing to fight for decent pay and better working conditions at First University Clinic and condemns recent union-busting efforts by their employer. “Nurses and other medical staff at the First University Clinic formed the Primary Solidarity Network Trade Union in May 2022, with the goal of uniting workers to fight for better wages and improved working conditions. But clinic administrators have since responded by harassing and intimidating employees who engage in union activities and/or express interest in joining the union”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Civil Society Organizations call on the president to veto damaging amendments to wiretap legislation. “On 7 June 2022, the Parliament of Georgia voted for legislative amendments that notably lower the standard of human rights protection in the process of covert investigative actions. The adopted bill falls well short of international norms of human rights protection and the practice of European Court of Human Rights. The adopted bill renders those positive legislative changes useless, which were implemented in 2014 with the active involvement of civil society and experts from the Council of Europe. Considering all the above said, we urge the President of Georgia to exercise the power granted to her under the Constitution, to veto the legislative amendments and to send them back to the Parliament with reasoned objections”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia has studied the guilty verdict delivered against Nika Gvaramia, a former director of Rustavi 2 TV company and the founder of Mtavari Arkhi, on May 16, 2022, which fails to meet the criteria of lawfulness, substantiation and fairness. “Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze of the Tbilisi City Court found Nika Gvaramia guilty of abuse of powers (on two counts) under Article 220 of the Criminal Code of Georgia and sentenced him to three years and six months of imprisonment. Considering the neglect of legitimate questions regarding the impartiality and objectivity of the judge, poor legal reasoning in determining the guilt and sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, dearth of systemic analysis of facts presented in the form of evidence and lack of use of corresponding court practice, legal literature or academic materials, we can conclude that the decision delivered against Nika Gvaramia is unsubstantiated”. Check out 5 reasons why Nika Gvaramia’s verdict is unfounded. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

America. On May 9-12, 2022, Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia, participated in the annual meeting of the Boardof Directorsof the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) in New York, USA, and in the meeting of the IOI Regional Directors. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Adjara. UNICEF Representative in Georgia, Ghassan Khalil delivered a public lecture on “Children's Rights - An Imperative on the International Agenda” at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University as part of the international conference “Early Education and Care”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On May 27, 2022, the Public Defender’s Consultative Council for the Promotion, Protection and Monitoring of the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held its 30th meeting. Newly elected members of the Council participated in the meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Public Defender Ekaterine Skhiladze. The participants discussed issues relating to the rights situation of persons with disabilities, including: challenges relating to the deinstitutionalization process, the possibility of blind people to sign documents in an appropriate format within the framework of reasonable accommodation, problems with the realization of the right to inclusive education of blind and partially sighted schoolchildren, including access to educational resources, importance of raising public and private sector awareness of issues relating to persons with disabilities and strengthening the organizations of persons with disabilities. The meeting of the Consultative Council was supported by the EU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgia Fair Labor Platform is investigating mass layoffs at museums run by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, which appear to have targeted employees for their critical views and/or trade union membership. The member organizations of the Fair Labor Platform are currently investigating the legality of the dismissal and reorganization of staff from the museum system. If necessary, we will provide legal support to members of the Trade Union of Science, Education and Culture, in addition to protecting the labor rights of other persons employed in the Ministry of Culture. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Racha-Lechkhumi. According to the information of the UNDP Georgia, The Social Inclusion Centre in Ambrolauri is one of the few places in Georgia to provide people with disabilities with space for social activities, professional skills development and equal employment opportunities. “Initiated by UNDP with support from the UN Fund for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Fund), this life-changing enterprise is being developed in partnership with the local self-government and a community organization “Together for Real Change”. The project has also received support from the embassies of Poland and Bulgaria”. Read more… Source: www.undp.org

Tbilisi. Following the announcement of Nika Gvaramia's verdict, the media agency - Ongo.ge, an agency mimicking the credible media agency -  on.ge, released "exclusive" information that allegedly Salome Zurabishvili will pardon Nika Gvaramia and that this was agreed in advance with the leaders of the United National Movement. The information was spread on pro-governmental media pages on Facebook and anonymous Facebook pages at intervals of several minutes. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary would like to comment on the guilty verdict delivered against Mr. Nika Gvaramia, director of Mtavari TV. "The ruling represents another concerning example of pressure exerted on critical media organizations, raising questions regarding the legitimacy of the ruling and showing signs of selective and politicized justice. The flawed administration of justice, which significantly affects and degrades the existing media environment and standards of protection of human rights and freedoms in general, further aggravates the political crisis and deepens the polarization in the country. At the same time, it fails to ensure stable democratic development and has a negative impact on the ongoing crucial processes of European integration”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes the blogpost: Who is the Presiding Judge on the Nika Gvaramia Case? “Lasha Chkhikvadze has been a judge for 15 years. Lasha Chkhikvadze was involved in a car accident that took place on January 22, 2015. Six cars collided in the accident, several people were injured and one died. The prosecutor's office denied that “any manipulation is taking place in the terminated case, as well as influencing someone, specifically Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze”. Zaza Gvelesiani, a witness in Nika Gvaramia’s case, was a close friend of a judge. Zaza Gvelesiani is the director of the media holding that manages Rustavi 2. Although Judge Chkhikvadze did not deny his close friendship with Zaza Gvelesiani, he did not grant the motion to dismiss himself from the case.  The criminal cases of Gigi Ugulava, Bacho Akhalaia, and Irakli Okruashvili are linked to the name of Judge Chkhikvadze”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The LEPL Agency for state care and assistance for the (Statutory) Victims of Human trafficking has shelters and crisis centers that provide support services to people (With children) who have experienced: Domestic violence Violence against women Sexual violence Human trafficking. Hotline 116 006 operates in 9 languages, including Ukrainian. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network