IDFI published new report - Oversight of Covert Surveillance: Law and Practice.  “State institutions involved in the oversight of covert surveillance frequently and grossly violate the constitutional right to public information”.  More Source: IDFI

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia public publication: “9 steps Georgia is expected to take to advance to the stage of negotiations with the EU: Justice System Reform”.  Justice reform is a vital prerequisite for Georgia's democratic progress and integration with the European Union. “Recent statements from top officials suggest a reluctance within the Georgian government to implement crucial recommendations from the European Commission. Non-compliance with these recommendations can impede Georgia's integration into the EU, posing a substantial threat to the country's membership prospects”. More… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center published analytical document “Monitoring findings regarding administrative cases – against civil activists’’. "Miscarriages identified as a result of the trial monitoring are related to both administrative detention of Human Rights Defenders (“HRDs”) and civil activists and the hearing of their cases in court", mention document.  More… Source: Human Rights Center

Tbilisi. In 2022, Georgia remained the main recipient of support within the EU4Business programme. Explore the impactful outcomes of this assistance in the EU4Business country report available here. Source: European Union in Georgia

Tbilisi."According to the decree issued on December 4, the Government of Georgia made changes to the terms of privatization for the property transferred to the family company of Bidzina Ivanishvili's business partner, Vano Chkhartishvili. The government administration does not disclose the details of these changes. Considering that the privatization of state assets is an area vulnerable to corruption, especially when the assets are transferred to offshore companies, it is necessary to maintain the highest standard of transparency. " More... Source: Transparency International Georgia

Tbilisi.Human Rights Watch has released a new report on the state of human rights protection in Georgia in 2023. The report reviews key challenges, including in relation to the freedom of assembly and association, accountability of law enforcement, and attacks on journalists. More... Source: IDFI 

Tbilisi.Transparency International Georgia requested information on statistics and legal responses to crimes committed against journalists in 2023.  According to the Special Investigation Service, from January 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023, 14 criminal cases were opened for illegal obstruction of a journalist's professional activities. Among the 14 cases, one was closed, four were forwarded to the court for hearings on the merits, and investigations are ongoing for the remaining nine cases. Moreover, in six criminal cases, the Prosecutor’s Office initiated criminal prosecution against nine individuals. Transparency International Georgia considers that ensuring a fear-free and safe media environment, first and foremost, by the ruling party is of utmost importance. Journalists should be able to carry out their professional work without interference and properly inform the public. One of the key requirements for ensuring a safe media environment is the prompt investigation of crimes committed against journalists and putting an end to impunity. More... Source: Transparency International Georgia

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia: "Owners of four blacklisted companies win tenders with a fifth new company" "Businessman Aleksandre Baratashvili escaped the black list of state purchases 4 times in a row without any problems. After four of his companies were blacklisted one after the other, he founded a fifth company and within weeks received contracts from government procurement. All the companies of Aleksandre Baratashvili have received 4.5 million GEL contracts from purchases together." More... Source: Transparency International - Georgia

Tbilisi. On December 12, 2023, the Council of the European Union approved enlargement conclusion. The Council calls on Georgia to demonstrate a clear commitment to EU values, increase its alignment with EU Foreign policy and „reverse“ the negative trend observed in recent times.   On December 15, European Council will decide on granting Georgia the candidate status.  More... Source: Institute for Development of Freedom of Information

Tbilisi.On November 21, Europe Foundation presented its recent survey report Knowledge and Attitudes towards the European Union (EU) in Georgia. Europe Foundation has been conducting the EU Knowledge and Attitudes survey biannually since 2009.  The survey results are representative of the whole population of Georgia (excluding occupied territories) and allow for the assessment of changes in the population’s knowledge and expectations of the EU, Georgia-EU relations, and European integration. More... Source: Europe Foundation

According to the 2023 results of the Local Self-Government Index, the average transparency and accountability score of Georgian municipalities in 2023 is 33%, 5% higher than the 2021 result. Municipalities improved the proactive disclosure of public information and electronic governance components. However, facilitating participation and accountability indicators have declined. More... Source: Institute for Development of Freedom of Information

Tbilisi.The newsletter gives an overview of the donations made by political parties from July 1 through September 30, 2023. From the trends that have been identified, particularly noteworthy are the donors of the Georgian Dream, more than half of whom are individuals connected with companies producing wine or other alcoholic beverages.  A considerable part of them have been receiving various types of subsidies, preferential loans, or public procurement contracts from the state for many years. In addition, some of the donations raise the suspicion that they are made through fictitious donors, which is a violation of the law. More... Source: Transparency International Georgia

Tbilisi.Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy of Georgia to the Republic of Armenia, Irakli Kvanchakhadze, did not disclose business interests, real estate and income in his asset declaration submitted in 2023. Transparency International Georgia calls on the Anti-Corruption Bureau to look into Irakli Kvanchakhadze’s asset declaration and respond to violations in accordance with the law. More... Source: Transparency International Georgia 

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blog. "Georgian Railway has announced an 184 million GEL tender to purchase electric locomotives. The result of the tender is probably predetermined because only companies with a certificate issued by the Eurasian Union, a customs union established by Russia, can participate. " More... Source: Transparency International Georgia publishes a blog.

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center published - “INTERIM REPORT ON MONITORING PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES”.  “The Report identifies breaches of domestic legislation regarding the right to freedom of assembly and manifestation as well as its practical realization and offers legal analysis. Additionally, the Report assesses the activities of the law enforcement officers during the demonstrations in coherence with the law. The Report summarizes the monitoring results and key findings”. More… Source: Human Rights Center

Tbilisi. Under the leadership of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, 9 civil society organizations regularly evaluate the state of fulfillment of 12 priorities defined by the EU. “The fifth edition of their assessment document – EU CANDIDACY CHECK reflects the progress achieved by the Georgian authorities in this context until the period of August 1, 2023, as well as the current state of play and the steps to be implemented in the future by the authorities so that Georgia gets the EU Candidacy Status. According to CSOs’ assessments, at this stage, one priority is fully implemented, two priorities are mostly fulfilled, seven priorities are partially fulfilled, and two priorities (deoligarchisation and political polarization) defined by the European Union are to be fulfilled. The previous EU CANDIDACY CHECK documents have shown that civil society assessments are largely in line with the interim assessment presented by the EU on 22 June 2023. From June 20 to August 1, 2023, small progress has been made in terms of fulfilling the priorities such as media pluralism and involvement of CSOs in decision-making. In the first context, the President pardoned Nika Gvaramia, and on the other hand, the government considered certain recommendations of the civil society in the process of developing a number of draft laws”. Read more… Source: osgf.ge

Adjara. With the initiative of our Committee of concerned citizens, the electronic petition for the implementation of the “Municipal Program of Sterilization-Castration of Pets” in Kobuleti City Council has been launched. The purpose of this petition is to establish a pet sterilization-castration program in Kobuleti starting from the 2024 budget year, providing free services for citizens during the first two years, and to establish a shelter for homeless animals by 2025. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to the TI Georgia, over the past two years, Natia Kukuladze, a member of the National Communications Commission of Georgia, failed to disclose her salary, 5 pieces of real estate and her husband’s business. “After the publication of the above material, Natia Kukuladze stated that the violations were a surprise for her, so she appealed to the Public Service Bureau, which identified a "technical misunderstanding". Her declaration has already been amended. Firstly, we welcome Ms. Kukuladze's prompt reaction and hope that she will continue to fulfill her obligation to fully declare assets in the future”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia has studied large delayed infrastructure projects in Adjara and their progress. Similarly to the previous study, we have selected those projects whose implementation has started and relevant contracts were also concluded, although the dates of completion are still unclear despite a number of changes to the contracts. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the TI Georgia, the organization of the former Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Dimitri Kumsishvili, receives money without a tender from the legal entity of public law (LEPL), which was subordinated to him during his tenure as Minister of Economy. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Transparency International Georgia has studied the public procurements won by Megobroba-5 LLC – the company of Martin Gabrielyani, the Director of a municipal NNLE – in the Akhalkalaki Municipality.   “Since the publication of our study, the State Procurement Agency has established more than 20 violations in these procurements and sent the administrative offense report to the Tbilisi City Court.  The Court gave a verbal warning to members of the tendering commission of the Akhalkalaki City Hall”. See the details of the study here… Source: transparency.ge