Tbilisi. On the night of January 30, 2022, 9 people were injured in an explosion in the Mindeli mine. One of them died after being taken to hospital. The Public Defender expresses her deep sorrow over the incident, offers her condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.  “The Public Defender calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Labour Inspectorate to respond to the incident in a timely and effective manner, including by identifying the causes of the tragedy, in order to avoid similar cases in the future. The Public Defender also calls on the Labour Inspectorate to identify all the violations and risks within the framework of the current inspection and to use all legal levers to remedy them”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of Georgia Young Lawyers’ Association, the patient, whose interests were represented by the GYLA Gori office in court, won a lawsuit against the Giorgi Abramashvili Military Hospital. The court ordered the medical facility to reimburse the costs of medical care and moral damages in favor of the patient. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia established sexual harassment in the workplace and addressed the harasser as well as the employer, Evolution Georgia Ltd, with a recommendation. The relevant application was referred to the Public Defender's Office by the Labour Inspection Service. “Ombudsman examined the case materials, including the applicant's interview transcript, correspondence between the parties, as well as information received from the third party, and concluded that the applicant was subjected to undesirable verbal behavior of a sexual nature by her colleague, which degraded and humiliated her”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Georgia Fair Labor Platform member organizations mourn the death of the miner and call on the state to immediately investigate the causes of the incident and raise the issue of liability of the relevant senior officials of the company. Read more…  Source: The page in the social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center, GYLA, and ISFED will protect the interests of persons dismissed as a result of staff cleansing by Tsulukiani in the cultural field. “Following the appointment of Tea Tsulukiani as the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, a reshuffle and large-scale changes began in the institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Culture, which finally took the form of staff persecution. At this stage, a total of 70 employees have been fired from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation and the Georgian National Museum, and dozens of outstanding employees continue to work in various positions in the same system under the fear of dismissal. We call minister Tsulukiani to stop the persecution of highly professional personnel of the field of culture due to their professional and different opinions and take into account the demands of organized resistance of the dismissed employees, to allow people with relevant competence and experience to continue their work to protect the cultural heritage monuments, museum exhibits and national treasures of Georgia”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center publishes the report: The state of Human Rights in Georgia, 2021. “This Report reviews the state of human rights in Georgia in 2021. Traditionally, it covers all significant legal and political developments, which influenced the state of human rights in the country. The report relies on the data collected and evaluations made by Human Rights Center, other Georgian civil society organizations, the Public Defender of Georgia and international organizations. The goal of the report is to assess the activities of various state bodies in terms of human rights protection, also the level of response of different state organs towards human rights violations, the efficiency of the judiciary and the legal and systemic changes which should aim to implement international human rights standards on the national level”. Read more… Source: hrc.ge

Tbilisi. On January 28 Giorgi Burjanadze, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, met with Kirsti Narinen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to Georgia, and Marja Liivala, Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. “The Deputy Public Defender reviewed the human rights situation in the country and spoke about the challenges relating to the protection of the rights of minorities and elimination of discrimination, shortcomings in the judiciary and other important issues”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

On January 27, 2022, Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia, met with Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg. „The Public Defender reviewed the human rights situation of Georgia. emphasized the challenges facing independent democratic institutions, including the abolition of the State Inspector’s Office in the hastened and non-transparent manner, as well as attacks on the Public Defender of Georgia. The meeting also focused on the offences committed against journalists and their improper investigation“. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

On January 26, 2022, Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia, met with Régis Brillat, Executive Secretary of the Committee against Torture (CPT), in Strasbourg. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. UNDP Georgia prepared the survey “Situation Analysis of the Rights of People with Disabilities in Georgia”. “People with disabilities remain marginalized in Georgian society. They lack access to education, employment and healthcare. They face violence, stigma and prejudice, especially women and girls with disabilities. Systemic and coordinated changes are needed to improve disability services and benefits and to reform the entire system of disability assessment, moving from a “medical” to “social” model”. Read more… Source: www.ge.undp.org

Tbilisi. On December 21, 2021, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed Shukruti+ Ltd with a recommendation to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of dissenting opinion in labour relations. “According to the factual circumstances, the company fired a miner, who spoke to the company's administration about problems in the workspace, including non-compliance with safety standards. According to the miner, he was fired for expressing his views and dissatisfaction, while the respondent (Shukruti+ Ltd) could not provide arguments proving that the reason for the applicant's dismissal was not his views on safety at work. In view of the above, the Public Defender called on the respondent to eliminate the consequences of discrimination against the applicant, in particular, to reinstate him in the same or equivalent position…” Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The analytical document describes challenges and barriers in healthcare system that are experienced by women living in Marneuli municipality and highland Adjara. "You might feel pain but you do not pay attention because it costs a lot to see a doctor. We do not have a context where you go there in advance even if you have money. It is true that you have to take care of yourself first, but when you see a family behind you, [which] does not have enough resources ... you do not allow yourself to go and do medical examination on yourself unless it troubles you". (Respondent from Adjara) "The state generally does not invest resources in preventive care, it is so expensive that it remains inaccessible to the population ... State funding is [mainly] reserved for the most severe health problems". (Respondent from Marneuli municipality) "I can not afford [to buy medicine] because I have financial problems. Sometimes I am not able to buy my medicine on time, sometimes I can only buy half of it". (Respondent from Marneuli municipality) Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. On January 25-27, 2022, Nino Lomjaria, Public Defender of Georgia, will pay an official visit to Strasbourg, where she will hold high-level meetings. The Public Defender will provide information on the human rights situation of Georgia. The main focus will be on media environment, equality situation, judicial and other democratic processes. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The signatory organizations support the protest of the IDPs living in the building of the sanatorium "Kartli" and mourn the grave tragedy that occurred on January 16 and call on the Georgian authorities to quickly act on ensuring the safe and dignified accommodation for the IDPs. “We believe that the state has neglected its obligation to protect the life and health of IDPs living in the dangerous environment, and the tragedy of January 16 is the result of a policy of inaction and mistrust”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. On January 17, 2022, the Public Defender of Georgia met with IDPs living in Kartli sanatorium and listened to their problems. “In view of the above circumstances, the Public Defender considers that since the facility is dangerous to live in, including for minors living in the building, it is important for the State to conduct result-oriented negotiations with internally displaced families, to hear about the obstacles in the process of searching for housing and their fears regarding rents, as well as to prevent risks and ensure the resettlement of IDPs in a safe place as soon as possible”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender expresses her condolences over the suicide of an IDP living in the building of former sanatorium "Kartli" in the settlement of the Sea District in Tbilisi and offers her sympathy to the family members and relatives of the deceased. “In recent years, the Public Defender examined the rights situation of IDPs living in the former sanatorium building Kartli and found that the Agency for Refugees, Eco-Migrants and Livelihoods unreasonably refused to check the technical sustainability of the building (to conduct the relevant inspection). As a result, on December 21, 2020, the Public Defender addressed the Agency with a recommendation and requested a technical sustainability inspection of the building. The expert opinion confirms the existence of an environment that poses an increased risk to life and health”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. With the help of TI Georgia’s lawyers, Abesalom Korshia registered a 5 000 sq.m agricultural land in Anaklia. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On January 13, 2022, about 390 employees of the Social Service Agency, in compliance with all legal procedures, informed their employer in writing that they intend to go on strike in three days, and will not work until their demands are met. “The Georgia Fair Labor Platform expresses solidarity with the striking Social Service Agency staff and calls on the Ministry of Health to meet their demands and create decent working conditions in the agency. The decision to strike was taken by the staff members as a measure of last resort under the Labor Code of Georgia, following an extended mediation process that ultimately failed. The employees’ demands primarily center around a pay increase and reimbursement of travel expenses. They are also demanding full compensation for maternity leave, health insurance, maintenance of employment while on sick leave, and the signing of a collective bargaining agreement”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The United Nations Country Team in Georgia expresses its regret over the decision of Georgian authorities to abolish the State Inspector’s Service. “On 13 January 2022 the President has signed a new law abolishing the State Inspector’s Service and creating two separate institutions: Special Investigative Service and Personal Data Protection Service. We are particularly concerned about the expedited manner and lack of inclusive and transparent discussions about the abolition of one of the most credible, independent and authoritative institutions in Georgia that is mandated to investigate alleged human rights violations committed by law enforcement officials and is entrusted with the oversight of personal data protection. The lack of convincing justification for abolishing the State Inspector’s Service and the absence of compelling rationale for stripping the State Inspector of her six-year mandate sends a chilling message to independent institutions of human rights protection. We call on the authorities to request the opinion of relevant international institutions on the compliance of these decisions with the international standards”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: georgia.un.org

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia responds to the January 12 verdict of the Tbilisi City Court related to the criminal case of Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze and Avtandil Tsereteli. "The court found that there were no signs of money laundering and reclassified the action as fraud. Today, Georgian society once again witnessed implementation of political justice. Despite the fact that leaders of “Lelo”, a political union, and a family member of the founder of a critical media channel “TV Pirveli” were not imprisoned, the court decision was politically motivated and caused serious reputational damage to them. In case the parties appeal the verdict, Transparency International Georgia will further continue to monitor the case in the courts of higher instance”, - is stated on the website of the organization on a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Shida Kartli. The Rondel Foundation publishes the fifth edition of “Monitoring of the situation at the occupation line in the Tskhinvali region” prepared by Elene Mindiashvili. “On December 12, Mamuka Chkhikvadze, a citizen of Georgia who had previously served in the Georgian Armed Forces, was detained near the village of Nikozi. Gela Gochoshvili, arrested in August, was released. A motion detector was installed at the house of Data and Valia Vanishvilis. People living in villages adjacent to the dividing line will receive financial assistance during the winter period”. Read more... Source: kremlin-roadmap.gfsis.org

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) considers that non-involvement of international experts in the process of examination related to the case of Lekso Lashkarava, as well as disproportionate dissemination of an expert conclusion, reduces confidence in the investigation process. “GYLA, in agreement with the family of Lekso Lashkarava, will continue to protect rights of the family during the process of ongoing investigations. A lawyer of the organization is going to apply to the investigative agency requesting to hand over the expert conclusion, while public will be informed about additional information right after we get thoroughly familiarized with the mentioned document”, - is noted in the statement of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge