Tbilisi. According to the information of the IDFI the attacks on the informational meetings of the organizers and supporters of the July 3 rally are clearly coordinated and contain signs of a crime under the Criminal Code of Georgia. IDFI calls on: The Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure the peaceful conduct of the public campaigns of the organizers and supporters of the July 3 rally. The Ministry should take preventive and follow-up measures provided by law in order to prevent the aggravation of the background of the July 3 rally and the encouragement of violence. The Special Investigation Service to immediately launch an investigation of the crime under Article 153 of the Criminal Code. Read more…  Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On June 28, 2022, Giorgi Burjanadze, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, met with Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Human Rights Ambassador of the Netherlands, and Maaike van Koldam, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia. Giorgi Burjanadze informed the guests of the activities of the Public Defender's Office and the current human rights situation in the country, including the investigation of hate crimes, the right to a fair trial and the rights situation of prisoners and vulnerable persons in Georgia. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Warsaw. A team of law students from the Free University of Tbilisi has won the final of the moot court competition on the rights of people with disabilities hosted in Warsaw today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The competition was the first of its kind organized by ODIHR, together with the Centre for Disability Law and Policy of the National University of Ireland, Galway. Read more… Source: www.osce.org

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia echoes the Pride Week that is due to start on June 28 and emphasizes the importance of ensuring the conduct of events within the framework of the Week in a peaceful and non-violent environment for the proper realization of the rights of the LGBT+ community and their supporters, as well as for the smooth conduct of democratic processes in the country. The Public Defender calls on the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia to: •    take timely and effective measures in order to prevent possible violent actions and protect the participants and organizers of the Tbilisi Pride from any threats coming from the violent groups; •    ensure that all the events scheduled within the framework of the Pride Week are carried out safely and smoothly; take measures to protect the territory adjacent to the Tbilisi Pride office; •    carry out the investigation launched on June 6, 2022 into the alleged threats and violent calls relating to the Tbilisi Pride Week in an effective manner; •    promptly respond to any violations. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Regions. From May 24 to June 13, 2022, the Public Defender’s Office held meetings with schoolchildren living in different regions of Georgia. The aim of the project was to raise children’s awareness of their rights and the mandate of the Public Defender, as well as to provide information about their rights in their relations with the police. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia welcomes changes to the Decree of the Government of Georgia on Social Package, as a result of which persons with disabilities will no longer be restricted from receiving a social package during the implementation of public activities. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

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