Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes the document: Politics of Crime Prevention in Georgia. “Crime prevention has a significant role in the life of a society. Its function is the creation of a safe and secure environment for people. Effective crime prevention policy contributes to avoidance of crime and victimization, also development of strong and vibrant communities. The present document studies crime prevention politics in Georgia. The document aims to assess how robust the steps taken by appropriate authorities are for changing the established practices of prevention and for their improvement”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary reacts to the amendments in the Organic Law on Common Courts. “On June 13, the Parliament of Georgia adopted amendments to the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts in the third reading. The Georgian Dream’s stated purpose of adopting the amendments was to fulfill the recommendations of the European Commission. However, according to the Venice Commission’s opinion, the draft law did not meet its recommendations concerning the judiciary.  That is why the Coalition calls on: The President of Georgia to submit the Law to the Venice Commission for urgent opinion; and The President and the Parliament of Georgia, if necessary, to use the constitutional mechanisms that will ensure the reflection of the fundamental justice sector reforms in the law in accordance with the Venice Commission’s recommendations”. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia won another case.  “The Kakhadze family, eco migrants living in jvariketi, khulo, had their application for compensation denied by the agency after their home was destroyed by a landslide.  TI Georgia’s lawyers challenged this decision in courts, ultimately resulting in the agency agreeing to reconsider the Kakhadze family’s compensation application”. Read more…  Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Adjara. The GYLA responds to the events of the peaceful protest in Batumi. “Based on the publicly disseminated facts it is known, that On June 3 at the Era Square in Batumi, At the rally aimed at declaration of solidarity with the illegally and arbitrarily detained human rights defenders in front of the parliament on June 2, 2023, 6 people were detained administratively, including two minors. It is worrisome, that after Tbilisi, in Batumi, the freedom of expression and assembly continues to be illegally restricted by repressive police mechanisms. The footage shows the use of physical force by the police against several people (clashes, handshakes), as well as the facts of violent arrests. As can be seen from the footage, the rally participant was arrested for calling the policeman "shameful". Detention of individuals on such grounds is not new in the Georgian reality, although it is important to note that state bodies and civil servants are subject to wider limits of criticism than private citizens. When a person's actions at a peaceful demonstration are neither violent, nor intended to be violent, their administrative detention runs counter to the guarantees protected by the freedoms of assembly and expression. In the footage, it is also clear how one of the detainees (who, as it turns out from the shouts of the people, is a minor) is probably being detained hands behind their backs, while their face is slammed to the front part of the car. In this regard, it is important to note that a widespread method of administrative detention is the use of rubber/plastic handcuffs during policing operations during demonstrations. However, in such a case, the police officer must warn the detainee that force/resistance may result in handcuffing and possible injury. Tight handcuffs can cause swelling, bruising, redness, numbness and other nerve damage, which in certain cases can reach the level of maltreatment. Such a warning does not appear in the video material”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information shares the survey: Analysis of Overall Statistical Data on General Courts of Georgia 2010-2022”. “The analysis of the overall statistical data received from the Supreme Court of Georgia shows that in 2022, compared to the previous year, the number of appeals to the court for all three categories of cases has increased. The highest rate of criminal cases filed since 2010 was recorded in 2022, which can to some extent be attributed to the deterioration of the criminogenic environment in the country. It is worth noting that the share of acquittals in criminal cases has significantly increased in the last 5 years, which on the one hand may be due to the raising of the standard of evidence required by the court to prove guilt, and on the other hand to the increase in the number of criminal cases conducted by investigative agencies in an unqualified manner”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The European Union (EU) co-founded the programme EU4Youth and created a Telegram chat-bot game Fair Employment. The game’s primary goal is to raise awareness and promote a better understanding of fair labour practices and standards that must be ensured before and after signing the contract for both young people and employers. “This game, among other EU4Youth initiatives, corresponds to the European Year of Skills 2023 activities aiming to increase people’s skills and empower them to navigate the labour market and its changes successfully and to engage in society and democracy fully”. Read more… Source: eu4georgia.eu

Tbilisi. "Transparency International Georgia” has submitted a legislative proposal to the Parliament of Georgia to amend the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament. The legislative proposal is intended to achieve power-sharing in the Parliament and strengthen the role of the opposition. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Adjara. According to TI Georgia, the organization’s lawyers successfully litigated at three instance courts the case of the illegal dismissal of Vakhtang Beridze from the director’s position at the Shuakhevi Cultural Center. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary calls on the Georgian parliament. “We call on the Parliament of Georgia to recognize the existing problems in the judiciary and, by taking into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission, to promptly start the fundamental reform of the judicial system, which will contribute to the fulfillment of the European Commission’s twelve recommendations”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center shares the analytical document: Another Attempt to Reform the Judiciary - Analysis of the Parliamentary Working Group and the Draft Law. “The recommendations issued by the European Commission for Georgia in the summer of 2022 created an important opportunity for the systemic refinement of the judicial system. Unfortunately, due to the lack of political will, this opportunity was not used effectively once again. The working group in the Parliament created only an illusory opportunity for civic engagement and in-depth discussions on judicial reforms. Despite the opportunity for formal engagement of CSOs, Public defenders, and professional groups in the activities of the working group, not a single recommendation made by them, directed to systemic changes, or to the assessment of existing problems in the court, was shared by the parliamentary majority. Moreover, rarely were these initiatives even the subject of genuine analysis and debate. Against this background, it is logical that the reform strategy developed by the working group does not even minimally address the systemic challenges in the judicial system. The package of legislative changes prepared on the basis of the mentioned strategy envisages fragmented, façade changes, which cannot be the source of hope for substantive refinement of the judicial system”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia’s lawyers helped Zaur Shonia to win an administrative dispute at the Poti City Court. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. A minor will no longer need the consent of an abusive father to get an education upon the request of “Rights Georgia”, the court issued an interim order. On November 25, 2022, the Samtredia District Court fully satisfied the request of "Rights Georgia" and the minor will no longer need the permission of the abusive father to study at school depending on her and her mother's geographical location.  "Rights Georgia" litigates this case before the court with the support of the USAID Rule of Law Program.  “Words cannot describe the emotion and happiness that I had during the hearing when the judge announced the decision. It's a great joy that I don't have to ask permission from an abusive father on matters related to the child's education. I am happy that from today I can provide education to my child independently,” -  the mother of the minor tells us. Read more... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. In 2012-2021 the lawyers of Transparency International Georgia won 762 court cases in favor of citizens. "Our lawyers have been supporting people illegally oppressed by the state with free legal assistance for years struggling to defend their rights". Read more... Source: The organization's page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary reacts to the re-election of Levan Murusidze and Dimitri Gvritishvili as members of the High Council of Justice by the Conference of Judges. “We believe these decisions strengthen the clan-based governance in the court and prevent the fundamental reform of the justice system, that, among other things, is included in the recommendations of the European Commission issued in response to Georgia's EU membership application”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary reacts to the judicial reform strategy and action plan released by the Parliament at the end of last week within the framework of the Justice Reform Working Group. The Coalition states that the proposed document does not reflect the real challenges in the justice system. Unfortunately, once again, it proves that the ruling political team does not have the readiness for real reform and continues to aim for façade changes. “We believe that the proposed reform strategy and action plan ignore the most pressing problems in the system. Another façade reform will not be enough to ensure the real independence of the justice system and thus will pose an even greater threat to the country's European integration process”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Kakheti. The representatives of the Social Justice Center held a legal aid meeting for the residents of Pankisi Gorge and provided the interested persons with legal advice on issues important to them. The meeting was held with the support of USAID Rule of Law program. According to the local population taking part in the meeting, it is vitally important to have clarity on legal issues and receive qualified assistance, therefore, they welcome such types of meetings. The Social Justice Center continues holding legal aid meetings in different regions of Georgia, including ethnically and religiously diverse cities and villages. Read more... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On September 22, 2022, the Georgian Court Watch presented a study: Factors Contributing to Nepotism and Cronyism in the Judicial System.”  It is based on 30 in-depth interviews conducted by Georgian Court Watch with current and former judges, lawyers, experts, and academics. In addition, the organization analyzed the legislation and decisions of the High Council of Justice. The study states that judicial reforms in Georgia have created an illusion of progress; institutional and procedural guarantees were used as a facade, which allowed an influential group of judges to pursue their preferred personnel policy. Read more… Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. According to the GDI, exactly one year since the July 5, 2021 violence, the ECHR has started communicating the application submitted by the GDI: “Tbilisi Pride” and others v. Georgia”. The Court considers that the application may become an impact case. “The case concerns the events of July 5, 2021 - homophobic violence, attack and threats against the LGBTQI+ community and activists. Arguing that the Georgian authorities did not act and their response was ineffective, the applicants have requested the European Court find the violation of Article 3 (No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment), Article 11 (freedom of assembly), Article 13 (Right to an effective remedy) and Article 14 (enjoyment of the rights and freedoms without discrimination) of the European Convention of Human Rights. The Court has communicated the application regarding each article to the parties. This means that the Georgian authorities must submit their response before October 13, 2022 to all questions asked by the Court. Among those, the Court asks: Did the authorities’ statements made in respect of the pride march exacerbate the violence which erupted on 5 July 2021? Did the state meet its obligation to prevent and effectively investigate violence? The Court has accepted the GDI’s motion and has invited the Government to provide copies of the relevant internal documents concerning the planning of the security arrangements undertaken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in advance of the impugned events. Significantly, the trials at the Tbilisi City Court ended a year after the July 5 events. However, no organizer of the violence has been punished, and those who were found guilty received minimal penalties. GDI is the legal representative of Tbilisi Pride and LGBTQI+ activists at the European Court”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of the Rights Georgia, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber delivers three arrest warrants. “30 June 2022, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (‘ICC’ or ‘Court’) issued the public redacted versions of arrest warrants for three individuals in the context of the situation in Georgia: Mr Mikhail Mayramovich Mindzaev, Mr Gamlet Guchmazov and Mr David Georgiyevich Sanakoev”. Read more… Source: www.icc-cpi.int

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary considers the appointment of Mikheil Chinchaladze for a second term as the chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals unjustified and harmful. “The High Council of Justice’s decision further deepens the problem of internal influences and clan-based governance in the judiciary. It undermines public trust towards judicial independence and damages the crucial process of Georgia's European integration”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Imereti. On June 14, 2022, with the Support of the European Union and ASB Georgia, the Legal Aid Center of the non-governmental organization “Rights Georgia” was opened in Chiatura, which will provide free legal assistance to the local population in cases related to gender-based and domestic violence. Read more…  Source: rights.ge