Tbilisi. Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary Reacts to the December 22-24, 2017 Police Control Operation, the so called Police Raid. ''Multiple allegations regarding violation of human rights were made in relation to the December 22-24, 2017 police control operation. In several instances criminal acts or disciplinary violations by law enforcement representatives look probable. The violations during the operation clearly show the need for the law enforcement system reform, which would change the nature of the police force, making them oriented to protection of human rights and earning trust of the public'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.coalition.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is echoing the reports, according to which, T.M., 19, was wounded during the search of one of the houses in the Pankisi Gorge on December 26. "The family members say the law enforcers shot T.M. when he was sleeping in his bed as soon as they entered the bedroom. As a result, the bed and the pillow are stained with blood. According to the family members, the grenade belonged to the law enforcers”, - The Public Defender mentions, - "Given that the statements of the family and the State Security Service are contradictory, the Public Defender calls on the Prosecutor's Office to quickly investigate the case, found out whether excessive force was used by law enforcement officers and do not leave any legitimate questions of the public unanswered. It is important to protect the rights of citizens, including alleged suspects, during protecting public safety. Unanswered questions cannot raise public trust in law enforcers”. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to a fact of possible ill-treatment of Zviad Ratiani by police and investigation related to this case. ''For timely and effective carrying out an investigation of beating Zviad Ratiani, who is under police control, it is important to ensure his involvement in the investigation process and grant him a status of victim'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia is echoing the incident that occurred in the village of Kistauri, Akhmeta municipality, and calls on the General Inspection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to quickly and effectively study the case. The Public Defender reiterates that law enforcement officers must properly protect the rights and interests of citizens during exercising their official duties, in order to prevent violation of the fundamental rights to life and health. In full Source: The organization’s Webpage

Tbilisi. According to a statement of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, police control has been carried out with violations and misconducts in some cases in the country. ''It was obvious that special police control was carried out with a number of procedural violations, while in some cases actions of police officers violated constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens'' – is noted in the statement of GYLA. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. With the assistance of our organization's lawyer Lela Motsonelidze, the guide of the Dadiani palace Elza Zodelava won the trial and the Dadiani Palace's historic-architectural museum was ordered to restore her to the position and reimburse her wage loss. Elsa Zodelava worked for the Dadiani Museum for years. But in 2017 she was fired by the director of the museum. We appealed this decision in the Zugdidi District Court. The Court of First Instance did not satisfy the claim, but the Kutaisi Court of Appeals fully satisfied the claim. In full... Source: The webpage of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has successfully completed an administrative dispute initiated in 2015 against the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Court ordered the Ministry to provide public information that EMC had been asking from July 2015. Read more... Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On December 15, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia filed a constitutional suit with the Constitutional Court of Georgia. ''The Public Defender considered that Articles 3781 and 3782 of the Criminal Code of Georgia did not comply with paragraphs 5 of Article 42 and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 17 of the Constitution of Georgia. The disputed articles impose penalties for transfer of prohibited items to persons placed in the temporary detention facility or penitentiary facility (3781), as well as for purchase, storage, carriage and/or use of prohibited items (3782). It should be noted that the list of prohibited items is determined by minister's order. Any offense and punishment should be clearly defined by the Criminal Code'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA defends interests of Odena Baramia, who was allegedly ill-treated by police officers in April 2016. ''Both the Prosecutor's Office and court have detected a very dangerous practice in regard to the case, which will significantly limit capability of people to report and demand investigation of crimes committed by police officers against them'' – is stated at GYLA. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''Coalition for Equality'' calls for immediate measures to protect women victims of violence committed by law enforcement officers. ''The Coalition notes that ineffective response of the state to such cases is obvious, presumably due to professional loyalty and unlawful influences'' - the statement reads. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. National Platform for Narcopolitics addresses the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia with an open letter. Platform member organizations consider that a statement, made by Irakli Kobakhidze on December 11, ignores a several months working processes and reveals attitude of the ruling team to this issue. The platform is ready to introduce arguments and international conclusions regarding the initiated bill to the Chairman of the Parliament in person. Read more... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender addressed the Constitutional Court of Georgia with two constitutional lawsuits. The institution of administrative imprisonment envisaged in the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia is disputed in the first constitutional lawsuit.The second constitutional lawsuit was filed by the Public Defender of Georgia and the NGOs of the Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary. In the present case, Article 2 of the Law of Georgia on Disciplinary Responsibility and Disciplinary Proceedings against Judges of Common Courts adopted on February 8, 2017 is a disputed norm. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. As a result of a legal assistance rendered by the Partnership for Human Rights (PHR), a temporary supporter has been assigned to a person included into service delivery of a community house ''hand-to-hand''. The Tbilisi City Court has recognized N.N. as a recipient of an assistance and, by the decision of the court, spheres of support have been defined to him/her. Read more... Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Public Defender Summarizes Results of Investigations of Several High-profile Cases He has Focused on since 2012. Since 2012, the Public Defender of Georgia has studied a number of cases of high public interest on his own initiative, reflected them in his parliamentary reports and issued recommendations in order to ensure effective investigations. ''According to the information provided by the Prosecutor's Office by the time of preparing this statement, no perpetrators have been identified in the majority of the cases despite the fact that a number of investigative actions were conducted; in most cases, no final decisions have been made'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On December 4, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia applied to Ltd Fresco with a recommendation concerning gender discrimination expressed in sexual harassment. The Public Defender started to study the existence of hidden video cameras in women’s changing rooms at Fresco supermarket network on his own initiative. The Public Defender believes that video surveillance in the changing rooms unjustifiably interferes with the privacy of the employed women. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On December 4, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia with regard to direct discrimination and harassment on grounds of different opinion. According to the factual circumstances of the case, the applicants are teachers of Tbilisi public school No 67, who appeared in a disadvantageous situation compared with other teachers of the school after expressing different opinion. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On December 4, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed Ltd Biblusi with a recommendation concerning direct discrimination on grounds of different opinion. ''According to the factual circumstances of the case, the applicant, along with other employees, publicly spoke about the labour conditions in Ltd Biblusi on Facebook. On February 15, 2017, the applicant was dismissed due to gross violation of the obligations under the labour contract and labour regulations'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations responds to an investigation of a case on leading Amiran Kvirikashvili to suicide. ''Despite having become known from the day of suicide of Kvirikashvili that his family and relatives were connecting this fact with the "interrogation” of the deceased at local police, which should exclude a competence of investigation of the case by local police, the investigation was still carried out by the MIA during five days and it hampered conducting timely and effective investigation of this case'' – the statement reads. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. On November 30, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia sent a recommendation to the Board of Authorization of General Educational Institutions. The Public Defender requested to annul the decision, according to which, the Demirel Private College was refused authorization, and to make a new decision as a result of thorough examination of the circumstances of the case. ''The study of the case materials showed that the Authorization Board’s decision is contrary to the law, as well as its previous practice. According to the Public Defender, the decision on the refusal of authorization to the Ltd Demirel Private College was made without studying the merits of the case and on grounds of the circumstances that were not fully studied during the administrative proceedings. The obligation to substantiate a decision in writing by indicating the merits of the case was violated as well. It is noteworthy that in the mentioned process, the school was not evaluated according to its curriculum of 2017-2018, but according to the past period, due to which, the procedure turned into the examination of the terms of authorization, which is a completely different legal institution'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Nona Babuadze, a citizen of Georgia, won a court trial with the assistance of lawyers of the Kutaisi office of Transparency International Georgia. A Zestaponi Educational Resource Center was charged to issue an order regarding her appointment as a Chief Specialist and compensate the remuneration that corresponds to the period before the court decision was executed. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Exactly 6 months have passed since Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, who lived in Georgia, disappeared from the center of Tbilisi on May 29, 2017. ''It is a pity that after six months from the beginning of the investigation, despite the existing high interest, the Prosecutor's Office has not informed public of the results of the investigation, which would have strengthened confidence in a timely and effective investigation'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Adjara. Paata Diasamidze, a lawyer of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, responds to a fire in the Leogrand Hotel and its results. The lawyer clarifies that in case of repeated violation, the Emergency Management Agency can fine the Hotel with the maximum amount of GEL 300. The Agency does not possess any other response tool. In the opinion of the lawyer of GYLA, the supervision mechanism in terms of fire safety is ineffective. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network