Tbilisi. As far as the Public Defender of Georgia has been informed, Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, living in Tbilisi, went missing yesterday, May 29. ''The Georgian state shall ensure full protection of the rights of all persons living on its territory. The developments ongoing in the neighboring states[1] should not affect the respect for human rights in the Georgian state. All persons living in Georgia should have a sense of security and lawful and fair treatment. There should be no suspicion that the state turns a blind eye to a crime or neglects the disappearance of Afgan Mukhtarli'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On May 25, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association observed a trial, on which Mustafa Emre Chabuk, a citizen of Turkey and a Quality Control Manager at the Private Demirel College, was sentenced to pre-extradition detention. ''GYLA considers that in the given case pre-extradition detention has been sentenced without justification. GYLA also considers that taking into account the context of the case and the current situation in Turkey, extradition of Mustafa Emre Chabuk to Turkey may entail a real threat of violation of his rights. Respectively, Georgia should refrain from his extradition'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On May 19, 2017, the Public Defender submitted amicus curiae brief to Tbilisi City Court with regard to alleged discrimination of a child with disabilities. The applicant's interests are being defended in the court by the Partnership for Human Rights organization. ''In the amicus curiae brief, on the basis of the standards established by the Constitutional Court and international institutions, the Public Defender presented a test of detection of indirect discrimination and drew attention to the burden of proof of the parties in the cases of discrimination, as well as the principle of reasonable accommodation'', is noted in the statement.  In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) presented its opinions regarding a bill on freedom of information to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a blog post: ''What to know about labor rights''. ''The brochure includes labor rights of those employed only in the private sector and public service, to whose legal relationship the labor code applies'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA once again responds to the case of Archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze and considers closure of court proceedings unjustifiable. ''Closure of court proceedings may only be justified in special, exceptional cases, when the objective cannot be achieved through less restrictive means'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition has sent to the Venice Commission a document, which contains opinions of the Coalition regarding a chapter about the judiciary in a new draft constitution. ''The Coalition considers problematic a number of amendments, as well as provisions, which are related to a rule about staffing up the Council of Justice, deadline of trial for judges, justification of decisions on appointment of judges, and rule about assignment of judges of the Supreme Court'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. ''Coalition for Equality'', parents of children with disabilities and other signatory persons/organizations respond to draft changes to be made by the Tbilisi City Hall into the subprogram ''Rehabilitation of children with autism spectrum disorder''. Organizations call on the City Hall to abolish already elaborated changes and cooperate with parents of children with disabilities. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations address the Government and the Parliament regarding a legislative initiative on merging community municipalities and self-governing cities. ''We consider it inadmissible to carry out a preparation and implementation processes of such important changes behind the public. Therefore, we address the Parliament of Georgia, as well as the Ministry of Infrastructure, to conduct a meeting among representatives of the Government and civil society in the nearest days, before forwarding the initiative to City Councils, in order to discuss proposals, prepared by the Ministry, in regard to abolition of the status of self-governing cities and communities'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: www.isfed.ge

Tbilisi. The Constitutional Court has registered a lawsuit prepared by the ''This Affects You'' campaign. ''277 citizens of Georgia have appealed to the Constitutional Court with a claim on a legislative package related to covert surveillance-eavesdropping. The registered lawsuit has already been published on the website of the Constitutional Court. It is not yet clear when the court is intending to hold an essential review of mentioned claims. According to the Rules of Procedure, the deadline for an essential review of a constitutional claim shall not exceed 4 months after the registration date'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.esshengexeba.ge

Tbilisi. On May 4, the Parliament reviewed through the first reading and supported amendments that are related to the regulation for submitting a legislative proposal. ''The initiative determines terms and conditions that are different from existing practice of appealing to the Parliament with a legislative proposal. Amendments, adopted by the Parliament of the ninth convocation through the first reading, impose an unjustifiable barrier to citizens in the process of submission of a legislative proposal'' – is stated on the website of the Transparency International Georgia. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. ''The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary'' publishes a study: ''The Judicial System: Reforms and Perspectives''. The study aims at analyzing the reforms and changes implemented in the judicial system since 2012, identifying existing challenges and providing respective recommendations. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On July 3, 2011, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), on behalf of participants of the protest rally, submitted a joint complaint to the European Court of Human Rights. On May 4, 2017, the European Court concluded a judgment in this case. The government offered the applicants to complete the case by a friendly settlement and committed to pay a compensation. Read more... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Taking into consideration the increased public interest, the Public Defender of Georgia once again echoes the so-called cyanide case and notes that full closure of the trial does not serve the aim of enhancing the public confidence in the investigative and judicial authorities. ''Given that the investigation of the criminal case has been completed, but the defense is still not allowed to disclose case materials, the publicity of the trial is the only way to increase public confidence in justice. The Public Defender of Georgia hopes that the court will use a much tougher test in the limitation of the public nature of the trial and it will be possible to carry out public control over the mentioned case'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. ''Partnership for Human Rights'' (PHR) will provide free legal assistance to women, victims of violence. ''Consultations will touch upon issues related to any kind of violence, including physical, psychological, sexual, economic assault and compulsion. If you have been harassed or consider that a woman nearby you, including a woman with disability, is a victim of violence or gender based discrimination - please contact us!'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. On the basis of a court decision, the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia was charged to compensate both material and moral damages in favor of V.Sh.. ''GYLA defended the person in a criminal case, in which he was found not guilty. With the support of GYLA he appealed to the court and demanded compensation for material and moral damages, caused by the harm inflicted on him during the criminal case'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations publish a statement regarding possible appointment of judges L. Murusidze and M. Sulkhanishvili for unlimited time. ''Attention should be paid to the fact that in this particular case the Council intends to re-appoint former judges of the Supreme Court without any reasoning on whether they deserve appointment for unlimited time or not'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On April 27, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia was informed that a 17-year-old girl was abducted for the purpose of marriage from the school area in the village of Takala, Marneuli municipality. ''Despite the fact that the girl denies violence, the Public Defender is concerned about the incident. In general, early marriage, especially ''abductions'', may potentially impact on the children’s healthy development and their rights to live in a free environment and get education'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The final of the second round of a simulated trial on domestic violence was conducted at the Supreme Court of Georgia. ''The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association awarded two best participants with enrollment in a school of the GYLA foundation for the support of legal education'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary responds to an "Initiative to restrict freedom of expression in order to protect credibility of court”. "On this background, initiatives, presented in the name of protecting independence of court, which, in fact, aim at restricting this possibility, carry a tangible and real threat of keeping a critical part of the society in a forced silence, thus not resolving, but further deepening existing problems” – is noted in the statement. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On April 22, the Constitutional Commission voted and approved a project on constitutional amendments. IDFI considers that the adopted project, along with certain positive innovations, contains a number of significant shortcomings as well. ''The project simplifies a procedure for declaring mistrust to the government, which is equally important for the parliamentary republic'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge