Tbilisi. On August 1, the civil society organization "Internews Georgia" released the radio monitoring results. The monitoring covered the period from 12 June to 23 July 2012. The researchers observed the evening news editions of 12 radio stations: Radio 1, Imedi, Utsnobi, Palitra, ApkhazetisKhma, TskheliShokoladi, Hereti (Lagodekhi), Atinati (Zugdidi), DzveliKalaki (Kutaisi), Green Wave, Fortuna and Radio Liberty. The described pre-election media monitoring is carried out with the support of the EU and the UN Development Program. The monitoring took off on May 11 of this year and will continue until December. The monitoring report is published on a monthly basis. Source:media.ge Report

Samegrelo. The "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy" has presented the report on July 31 in Khobi on the activities implemented during 4 months as part of the project "Active Society - Warrant of Democracy". Monitoring conducted within the project framework has identified the water and road issues in the Kolkheti settlement as the priority problems existing in the Khobi Municipality. According to the organization's Khobi coordinator Maka Lataria, this year they have submitted these problems to the representatives of local authorities, who on their part have promised to solve them. As Maka Lataria is aware, 400 thousand GEL were already allocated from the Municipal Development Fund and the water supply improvement works will be launched in the near future. Funds needed for the road rehabilitation works will be included in the local budget for 2013. The "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy" implements the project "Active Society - Warrant of Democracy" with the financial support of "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation.

Adjara. On July 26 the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association presented in the Batumi Press-Cafe the project "Promoting Accountability and Transparency in Georgia” and the "Monitoring Report of State Procurements of Outdoor Lighting under the 2010 Budget of the Self-Governing City Batumi” prepared as part of the same project. The monitoring report of state procurements of outdoor lighting under the 2010 budget of the self-governing city Batumi is related to the process of state procurements and major trends identified throughout the process. According to the monitoring report, the work of the tender commission has violated the requirements of the law, such as the rule of publication of announcement, difference between the annual procurement plans determined in advance and the prices indicated in the tender announcement. Representatives of the civil society, CSOs and media were invited to the meeting.

Imereti. Independence of the judicial system, increasing the transparency, impartiality of judges and the problems in the criminal cases - the information meeting was held on July 25 concerning these issues in the Kutaisi Branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA). Recommendations submitted by GYLA delivered ways of solution of the listed issues. The report drafted by the civil society organizations and the results of 6-month monitoring over the criminal cases in the Tbilisi City Court were presented at the meeting. Civil society organizations and the media representatives have participated in the meeting. GYLA prepares similar reports and releases it to public on an annual basis. According to the Chairwoman of GYLA Tamar Chugoshvili, similar meetings aim to solve problems within the judicial system. GYLA's reports include statistical data that reflect the current state of the judicial system.

Guria. With the support of the Lanchkhuti Information Center and the Ozurgeti Young Scientists' Club, the local monitoring group has monitored in the Bokhvauri Community the programs and projects implemented in the villages of this Community by the municipality in 2011. Based on the monitoring, a relevant report will be drafted, which will be submitted to the population of the concerned village. Based on the monitoring results, the television story will be prepared also that will be shown to the Guria population by the local TV-company "Guria". The monitoring was carried out within the framework of the "Public Monitoring for Change" project funded by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation.

Guria. With the support of the Lanchkhuti Information Center, the local monitoring group has conducted in the Dvabzu Community the survey of satisfaction of the population with the results of programs and projects implemented by the municipality in the villages of this Community in 2011. The study was carried out within the framework of the "Public Monitoring for Change" project funded by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation.

Tbilisi. "Electorally Motivated Public Spending” – is the title of the new report released by "Transparency International – Georgia”, as part of the project "Transparent and Accountable Political Finance in Georgia”. The report focuses on the electorally motivated spending by the central authorities and it does not contain the analysis of economic expediency of examined issues. "The tendencies of spending public funds are different in the election years – the budget is much more oriented on the implementation of social, short-term employment and other type of populist projects. 2012 is not an exception in this respect either”, states the report. Report – "Electorally Motivated Public Spending” Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The "Local Self-Government Monitoring Guidebook" was developed by the Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research within the framework of "Local Self-Government Monitoring Guidebook for Regional Non-Governmental Organizations and Media". This project was implemented with the support of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and funding of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). To evaluate the relevance of the Guidebook and submit recommendatory proposals, the Institute would like you to fill the below questionnaire. Your evaluation and opinions are important for the authors of the publication. Local Self-Government Monitoring Guidebook (Geo) Questionnaire (Geo) Please send the filled questionnaire before July 6, 2012 at the following e-mail: info@ciesr.org