Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a study: “Practice of proactive disclosure of public information at public institutions of Georgia (2021)”.  According to the findings of the study:  “In 2021, in compliance with requirements of the relevant legal act, only 6 public institutions have fully published information;  The lowest ratings among Central Government Institutions are held by the Government Administration (31%) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (36%).  The most problematic issue still remains to be the publication of information related to the management of finances”.  Read more…   Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes an interim report of the study on “Misuse of administrative resources for the 2021 municipal elections in Georgia”. Observation performed by the organization for the municipal elections from June 1 to September 25, 2021 revealed that misuse of administrative resources for the elections is still a problem for Georgia.  “Ineffective investigation of alleged cases of intimidation applied against employees of budgetary organizations on political grounds, dismissal from work and harassment of candidates of opposition parties, as well as the politicization of public institutions and large-scale mobilization of employees of budgetary organizations for election campaign purposes by the ruling party, use of budgetary programs for parochial party interests and other flawed tendencies are main challenges to a fair election environment”.  Read more…  Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Rule of Law in Georgia (USAID / PROLoG) project, releases a study on Access to Justice in Georgia.  The study conducted by Social Justice Center in 2020-2021 years has revealed that access to justice in Georgia has many dimensions. The main problem is the fact that the state does not have a unified vision in regard to the improvement of access to justice and fails to pursue effective policies in this regard. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Today, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) presented the second interim report for the official pre-election period of the 2021 local self-government elections.  The report covers the period from August 31 through September 21, 2021, as well as certain events, development of which began before August 31, continued further within the monitoring period or became known during the monitoring period. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Media Development Foundation the sixth annual report of anti-Western propaganda reflects the results of media monitoring conducted in 2020.  The study is carried out in partnership with the UN Association of Georgia (UNAG) within "Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness Program in Georgia” implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Read more…  Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI) presents a report on the monitoring of parliamentary hearings of candidates nominated by the High Council of Justice of Georgia for vacant positions of judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia.  As stated in the report, - “It is true that the present competition was conducted on the basis of improved procedures and rules compared to a similar process in 2019, however, there were revealed no fewer shortcomings related to the content in the process itself. The difference between appraisal prepared by members of the High Council of Justice and actual results demonstrated during committee hearings was conspicuous. Candidates, whose personal or professional, as well as communication skills, were highly valued by members of the Council, often lost their temper during committee hearings and behaved inappropriately for their high judicial status”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public defender of Georgia published a report – ‘Impact of COVID 19 pandemic on conflict-affected women and girls.   ‘The present report provides results of research conducted by the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on conflict-affected women and girls, to evaluate local safety policy in this regard, and to identify the needs of women and girls living in collective centers, near the dividing line and in the occupied territories , - we rad in the information spread by the Public Defender’s office, - ‘As part of the monitoring, interviews and focus groups meetings were held with the conflict-affected women and girls, representatives of international organizations and, international missions; also with the non-governmental organizations, working on the peacebuilding process.  Read more… https://www.ombudsman.ge/eng/akhali-ambebi/covid-19-pandemiis-gavlena-konfliktit-dazaralebul-kalebsa-da-gogoebze  Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public defender of Georgia published a report - ‘Findings and Recommendations of Monitoring of Implementation of 2018-2020 National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security.   ‘The present report provides results of the Public Defender’s monitoring of the implementation of the 2018-2020 National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security. The purpose of the monitoring was to evaluate the implementation of the measures provided for in the Action Plan and the results achieved to identify shortcomings and main gaps’, - we rad in the information spread by the Public Defender’s office, - ‘As part of the monitoring, information was requested from state agencies implementing the activities under the Action Plan. Focus group meetings were held with women living in the IDP settlements and villages along the dividing line in various regions of Georgia. Meetings were also held with representatives of non-governmental organizations and self-governing bodies. Due to the limitations of the Covid Pandemic, the above-mentioned meetings were held online’.  Read more…  Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The special report was drawn up on the basis of the visits paid to the assisted living facilities and orphanages for persons with disabilities. “The document discusses the living and infrastructural environment of the facilities, the rule of institutional upbringing, the lack of inclusive care and necessary educational-rehabilitation services, which ultimately lead to the formation of the syndrome of dependence on the institution and reduce the beneficiaries’ skills for independent living. The number of staff is not sufficient and in some cases they are unqualified; hygiene and sanitary norms are not properly observed, which makes the environment especially dangerous in the context of the Covid 19 pandemic. Meals are not diverse and it is necessary to address the issue of unavailability of clean water. Cases of violence are not properly identified, evaluated or responded. No anti-alcoholic or anti-drug efforts are made. Somatic and mental health are problematic, as well as directions of dental and psychosocial treatment. The protection of confidentiality was identified as an important trend”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender presents the findings of a special report drawn up on the basis of the visits paid to the assisted living facilities and orphanages for persons with disabilities were presented and the activities planned in the thematic directions were discussed at the meeting. The visits were conducted in 2020 as part of the monitoring of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and were aimed at assessing the quality of observance of the Minimum Care Standards in Specialized Living Facilities for Persons with Disabilities and Older People, as well as the Child Care Standards, including in the context of the prevention of the novel coronavirus. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia presents updated data on election irregularities and responses. The information covers the period from 1 to 14 September. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) presented today its first interim report on social media monitoring from the perspective of the 2021 self-government elections.  The report contains an analysis of the main trends that take place in the social media space in Georgia in the run-up to the 2021 local self-government elections. It describes the activity of official pages of political parties and local self-government bodies participating in the elections, as well as results of observations on anonymous and open pages operating for political purposes and other important trends. The report covers the period from August 2 through August 22, 2021. Within the reporting period monitors of ISFED thoroughly examined 1,126 posts. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia studied the asset declarations of up to 45 officials in Tsageri and Lentekhi municipalities’ City Halls and City Councils and found that 15 had incomplete declarations. ‘It should be noted that according to Article 18 of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Institutions if an official does not indicate an enterprise that has not had a turnover in the last 6 years, the Civil Service Bureau will not find a violation. Transparency International Georgia lacks the ability to check whether the companies mentioned in the research had a turnover or not. Accordingly, the study provides information on undeclared enterprises, and turnover verification is the prerogative of the Civil Service Bureau’, - we read in the information published by TI. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. GYLA presented №15 criminal trial monitoring report. This is the first annual report that assesses the impact of restrictions introduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic on pending court trials in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi City Courts, and Zugdidi and Telavi District Courts.  The report discusses the trends identified as a result of monitoring court hearings held without courtroom attendees and analyzes the pros and cons of remote litigation. The compliance of the decisions of parties and court rulings with the law is assessed as well as the challenges the court, parties, and penitentiary institutions were exposed to due to the Covid-19 pandemic are analyzed. The pandemic-induced changes in the criminal court proceedings and their consequences are also evaluated.  The report analyzes the impact of the decisions made at different stages of the pandemic on the litigation process and provides the necessary recommendations for improving the current situation. The report presents the results of the criminal court monitoring conducted from March 2020 through March 2021, as well as the key trends identified at different stages of the monitoring.  Read more…   Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia presents a short analysis of the 6-month implementation of the 20201 state budget. The recommendations issued by the organization are as follows: Although the amendments to the 2021 state budget have reduced the budget deficit from 7.7% to 6.9% of GDP, the deficit remains very high and the government must make savings on unnecessary spending by the end of the year. Reducing the deficit will have a positive effect on macroeconomic stability, decrease price levels, and negative pressure on the GEL exchange rate; In the budget performance reports, the Ministry of Finance should provide information on how many non-staff contractor workers are employed in each institution and how much is spent on their remuneration. When government debt is significantly increased and there is a pandemic in the country, doubling the expenses on temporary workers raises questions about inefficient spending and nepotism, as hiring such employees is less regulated by law. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia studied the performance of Batumi City Council in 2020. The research also covers the main findings and recommendations. This information will support the City Council, formed after the 2021 Local Self-Government elections, in its future activities. The report is based on the information requested and received from the City Council, on observations of the organization, and on the materials of the media outlets. Transparency International Georgia published the 2017-2019 performance evaluation of Batumi City Council in March 2020. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia assessed the activities carried out by the City Council of Akhaltsikhe municipality in 2020. The report is based on the information requested and received from the City Council as well as the information published on the official website of the City Council, and on observations of the organization. Transparency International Georgia evaluated Akhaltsikhe City Council’s performance in 2020 as well. The study covered the period from November 2017 to 2019. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. TI has published an article – ‘https://transparency.ge/en/blog/anti-corruption-environment-georgia-and-recommendations-european-union’.  This article by Alexan¬der Kevkhishvili was published on June 21 as part of a project titled Eastern Partnership Plus implemented by the German think tank Zentrum Liberale Moderne (LibMod).  ‘The current situation vis-à-vis corruption in Georgia is characterized by impressively low levels of petty corruption combined with near-total impunity for high-level corruption, - we read in the article.  Read more…   Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia assessed the activities carried out by the representative body of Kutaisi municipality - the City Council in 2020. The report is based on the information requested and received from the City Council and on observations of the organization. The research covers the period of 2020. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia assessed the activities carried out by the City Council of Zugdidi municipality in 2020. The report is based on the information requested and received from the City Council as well as the information published on the official website of the City Council, and on observations of the organization. The research covers the period of 2020. Transparency International Georgia evaluated Zugdidi City Council’s performance in 2020 as well. The study covered the period from November 2017 to 2019. Read more…  Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia assessed the activities carried out by the City Council of Poti municipality (Hereinafter Poti City Council) in 2020.  The report is based on the information requested and received from the City Council as well as the information published on the official website of the City Council, and on observations of the organization. The research covers the period of 2020. Transparency International Georgia evaluated Poti City Council’s performance in 2020 as well. The study covered the period from November 2017 to 2019.  Read more…   Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. GYLA monitors pre-election processes within the framework of a long-term observation mission through 9 regional offices. They are in Tbilisi, Adjara, Guria, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Imereti, Shida Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Kakheti. An interim report on the 2021 local self-government elections covers the results of monitoring conducted from May 1 through July 31. GYLA accounted for several problematic cases during the reporting period, one part of which is related to the use of public resources by the ruling party for electoral purposes, while the other one – to the dismissal of a public servant from work for adversarial views. Read more… Source: The website of the organization