Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia responded to the rights situation of internally displaced persons and addressed LEPL Agency ofIDPs,Eco-migrants and LivelihoodProvision with a proposal relating to the restoration of IDPs’ rights violated by the restrictions imposed against the spread of novel coronavirus in the country. The document refers to the infrastructure malfunction of IDPs’ former compact settlement facilities and socio-economic problems of internally displaced persons, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Read more  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public Defender responds to the death of a 60-year-old IDP in the former Geologist sanatorium building of Tskaltubo. The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Agency for IDPs, Eco-Migrants and Livelihoods to use all the leverage at its disposal to ensure the long-term resettlement of IDPs from the life-threatening facilities, and in case of absence of sufficient resources (apartments), to provide rented houses for such families before the long-term resettlement. Read more… Source: http://ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender's Office organized a training on issues relating to international refugee protection and security. The training was attended by representatives of the Public Defender's Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Security Service and Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the South Caucasus. The two-day meeting highlighted the importance of cooperation between the Public Defender's Office and relevant state agencies in improving the rights situation of aliens, including asylum seekers and internationally protected persons. Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Kvemo Kartlli. In the frame of the project ” Promoting new women leaders and ‘invisible women’ human rights activists” The Human Rights House Tbilisi presents refugee from Abkhazia Luda Salia.  26 years have passed since Luda Salia left her home along with Abkhazia after Sokhumi fell. Now she protests Russian occupation from the village of Khurvaleti in Gori Municipality. Here, next to the barbed wire fences she has managed to open a shelter for the elderly.  Rad more… Source: The web-site of the organization

Tbilisi. On July 17, the World Day for International Justice, five organizations, members of the Georgian Coalition for the International Criminal Court, conducted presentation of a special report – “Ten years after the August war: Condition of victims in Georgia”. “The report has revealed that IDPs, located in resettlement areas, live in difficult socio-economic conditions even after ten years since the war. Problems of IDPs are identical irrespective resettlement areas. Only 0.02% of interviewed IDPs note that their families do not face any problems”, - is stated on the website of GYLA. Read more… Source:    The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On 19 June 2019, Public Defender held Round Table on Legal Status of Refugees and Aliens in Georgia in connection with the World Refugee Day. The efforts made by the Public Defender in the direction of studying the situation of refugees and aliens in Georgia was introduced at the event.  Since 2015, Public Defender's representatives have been actively studying the human rights situation of asylum seekers and refugees in Georgia, as well as carrying out intensive monitoring of access to asylum procedures at the state border of Georgia, as well as the center for asylum seekers and the procedure of determination of the refugee status in order to check the quality of the asylum procedure, with the support of the UNHCR Representative in South Caucasus; in addition, trainings are held within the framework of the project, both for the employees of the Office and representatives of state agencies with regard to asylum issues and legislation.  Read more Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. On November 8, 2018, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) began to examine the case of Giga Otkhozoria on merits. In particular, the Court addressed the Russian Federation, as the respondent State, with respective questions concerning the case of Otkhozoria’s murder. ''The Russian Federation will have to answer the ECtHR questions about the fact of deprivation of Giga Otkhozoria’s life and in particular, whether the Russian Federation violated Otkhozoria’s right to life and the extent to which the investigation into Otkhozoria’s murder by the national investigative authorities was effective. In addition, the ECtHR demands that the respondent State submit copies of all investigative materials obtained within the investigation of Otkhozoria’s murder carried out by the de-facto Abkhazian authorities. The Russian Federation must submit its answers to the ECtHR questions by the deadline of March 7, 2019'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender publishes a special bulletin that refers to the tragic events of 2008. ''The war was a severe blow to Georgia's political, economic and democratic development. The conflict harmed relations between people, relatives and friends. Today the border guards of the Russian Federation illegally detain and fine people at places of intensive movement and trade 10 years ago. According to the Russian and de-facto authorities, the number of persons detained on the occupation line of Abkhazia amounted to 15 000 in 2009-2017 and the number of detainees on the occupation line of the Tskhinvali region was 1 063 in 2016-2017. Cases of deprivation of life have also occurred on the occupation lines. The conflicts in the 90s and 2008 affected more than half a million people. 278 103 out of them became internally displaced persons. 20% of the territory of Georgia is occupied. These figures indicate the challenges faced by our country and the huge responsibility of the central government'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

On August 1, 2018, the Public Defender of Georgia met with the population of the villages located along the dividing line. In 2017, the occupation line was moved 700 meters into the Georgian-controlled territory and the population of the villages further lost hectares of land. ''The situation of the houses damaged during the 2008 war is becoming worse each year, which in turn increases the finances needed for their rehabilitation. In addition, the people living in the damaged houses face the danger of being left without housing. The governmental commission should make a final decision with regard to allocating finances from the state budget for the rehabilitation of or compensation for the damaged houses. According to the Gori Mayor, 41 houses need rehabilitation, which will cost GEL 720 000'', Nino Lomjaria said. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Civil Society Organizations releases statement on International Justice Day. "Today we join you in celebration of international justice day and the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the ICC. At the same time, we commemorate 10 years since the 2008 conflict in Georgia. Throughout the last decade, many victims have passed away, thousands of displaced people are living in dire conditions, and civilians are living in fear. Families of the lost ones and the remaining victims are losing hope that they will ever get justice. Looking at the future of the Rome Statute system, on this symbolic occasion, we would like to provide 10 key recommendations to the new ICC leadership and to the Trust Fund for Victims, to make the ongoing process meaningful for the affected communities. The ICC has opened an investigation on the situation in Georgia in January 2016 bringing a new glimmer of hope. There is however a desperate need for detailed and balanced information amongst the victims and affected communities as well as in media and general public. There are numerous unanswered questions and misunderstandings regarding the investigation and what the Court can do”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The World Refugee Day has been celebrated since the adoption of the Resolution N55/76 of the General Assembly of the United Nations to focus special attention on the vulnerable persons that were forced to leave their country due to conflicts and human rights violations. ''Like the world developments, the number of asylum seekers has grown in the last few years in Georgia too; this figure was at record high in 2014-2015. Currently, about 1500 persons have refugee and humanitarian status in Georgia. Majority of them are citizens of Russia, Iraq, Ukraine and Syria'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia, within the framework of a resolution of the Human Rights Council on "Cooperation with Georgia”, has provided information about human rights situation on the occupied territories of Georgia to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Information contains facts of violation of human rights revealed in the last period of time in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, including those of breach of freedom of movement and unlawful detention at lines of separation, violation of education and property rights and restriction of freedom of expression, as well as the case of Archil Tatunashvili and pressure kept against Tamar Mearakishvili, a civil activist. The High Commissioner for Human Rights will give an oral speech, including about Georgia, at the 38th, while present a written report at the 39th sessions of the Human Rights Council.  Read more… Source:The website of the Public Defender

Activities of Public Defender of Georgia in the Field of Protection of Human Rights of IDPs Reflected in ENNHRI’s Action Plan. An action plan for strengthening the mandate of national human rights institutions in protecting the rights of IDPs was drafted at the meeting held by the European Network of Human Rights National Institutions (ENNHRI) in Kyiv on May 22-27, 2018. The activities of the Georgian Public Defender's Office were used as one of the best practices in the mentioned document. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Public Defender provided information to representatives of the NGOs working on the rights of conflict-affected persons about the rights situation of the conflict-affected population reflected in the parliamentary report 2017 and listened to their opinions and assessments. The rights situation in the occupied territories and along the dividing line, the so-called borderization process and violation of property rights, integrity and freedom of a person were discussed at the meeting. In full Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Public Defender and First Deputy Public Defender met with the head of European Union Monitoring Mission. The main topic of the meeting was the death of Archil Tatunashvili on the occupied territory. They also discussed the rights of the people living along the dividing line and on the occupied territories, both the security and social aspects. The issues of IDPs and ethnic minorities were also discussed. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. The Parliament’s Committee on Health and Social Affairs supports the legislative proposal of the Public Defender of Georgia of 3 November 2017 concerning amendments to the Law on State Pension. The legislative proposal envisages amendments to the law so that people employed in the public sector and living in the occupied territories have the opportunity to receive state pension in an uninterrupted manner. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Special Report of the Public Defender of Georgia "On the Impacts of the Closure of Crossing Points on the Rights of the Population Living Along Abkhazia’s Administrative Boundary Line” discusses the problems that the closure of crossing points created for the local residents on both the sides of the Administrative Boundary Line with Abkhazia. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On November 14, 2017, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili met with residents of the town of Borjomi, the settlement of Bakuriani and the village of Tsikhisjvari to discuss the challenges relating to human rights and other issues of the region. ''There is no natural gas supply or kindergarten in the village; the road infrastructure is out of order; the building of the outpatient facility needs to be repaired; Timely woodcutting is problematic for the locals due to complicated procedures, whereas firewood is the only means of heating. Registration of land is the most urgent problem for the residents of Bakuriani; the school and kindergarten buildings need to be repaired; the population is dissatisfied with the implementation of the Law on Socio-Economic and Cultural Development of High Mountain Regions, as it selectively applies to certain groups of the society. Ucha Nanuashvili also met with IDPs living on the Borjomi Plateau'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Samegrelo. There was an information meeting held at the Center for Civic Engagement. ''The purpose of the meeting was to get familiarized with the agenda and results of peacekeeping negotiations of IPRM in Gali, to analyze challenges in terms of security in the Samegrelo region and needs of affected population, living in villages adjacent to the occupation line'' – is stated on the website of the Women’s Information Center in a social network. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association publishes results of a specific case. ''V.P. won a court case against the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons, his interests were defended by the Tbilisi office of GYLA. An enforced decision of the court determined that in 2014 the Ministry refused to purchase a dwelling to the family of V.P. without justification'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On June 8, 2017, at the presentation of a special report on the rights situation of the conflict-affected population, the Public Defender reviewed the safety and social situation in the villages alongside the dividing lines and in the occupied territories. Ombudsman presented recommendations aimed at improving the rights situation of the conflict-affected population. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a visualization: ''Is the Law on Occupied Territories being enforced?'' ''In May 2017, Yuri Luzhkov, a former Mayor of Moscow, managed to arrive in Georgia and depart the country without an obstacle, despite the fact that he visited Abkhazia illegally in 2010'' – is stated on the website. Read more... Source:idfi.ge