Tbilisi. The Constitutional Court of Georgia satisfied a constitutional claim of Giorgi Kraveishvili against the Government of Georgia. ''The court considered confidentiality of identity of independent experts, who perform evaluation of projects submitted to the state scientific grants competition, unconstitutional in relation to the freedom of information guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a blog post of Saba Buadze and Mariam Tutberidze: ''New system of monitoring of property declarations – IDFI appraisal''. ''An instruction of monitoring of a property declaration makes it possible that declarations of officials no longer carry just a formal character and that the accuracy of information, provided therein, is actually checked'' - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association appeals to the Parliament with a legislative proposal, which aims at increasing guarantees for protection of rights and interests of a victim in the Criminal Procedure Code. ''The legislative proposal grants the right to a victim to appeal to court against following decisions made by a higher prosecutor...'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On November 24, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, on behalf of four individuals, participants of a protest rally of May 26, 2011, submitted an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. On March 7, 2017, the European Court delivered its judgment related to this case. ''The Government of Georgia admitted breaching Articles 3 and 11 of the Convention due to mistreatment and violation of the right of assembly, committed against applicants, and took the responsibility to pay a compensation to applicants'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Reade more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations respond to facts of possible physical abuse and inhuman treatment committed by law enforcement representatives. ''On March 30, 2017, the public became aware of one more fact. In particular, according to the statement of lawyers and family members of Shota Pakeliani, he was a victim of inhumane treatment committed by police officers'' – is noted in the joint statement. Non-governmental organizations call on the Prosecutor's Office to investigate identified facts effectively. Reade more... Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia considers that the legislative amendments adopted by the Parliament on March 22, 2017, according to which, the technical means of wiretapping still remains in the State Security Service, is contrary to the Constitutional Court's decision of April 14, 2016. ''With regard to this issue, the Public Defender will appeal to the Constitutional Court in the coming days and will demand declaration of the new legislation regulating wiretapping as unconstitutional in a simplified procedure'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The campaign ''This Affects You'' publishes a statement. ''With the new legislation risks of violating privacy of personal data further increase. This form of an electronic claim provides a chance to every citizen of Georgia – to use an available legal mechanism and challenge current legislation. We request you to print out a filled claim, sign and submit it to the ''Open Society Georgia Foundation'' office'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:www.esshengexeba.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International – Georgia'' responds to the decision of the Tbilisi City Court of February 10, 2017, according to which the ''Philip Morris'' company has been charged with up to GEL 93 million to be paid in favor of JSC ''Tbilisi Tobacco''. The organization considers that ''the court decision… raises questions''. Read more... Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On March 27, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association made a presentation of results of monitoring criminal cases at Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Gori and Telavi courts: ''Family harassment, domestic violence and violence against women''. ''The report, based on particular examples, retells about beating a woman by a man, harassment conducted against a pregnant wife, burning a woman using petrol, serious psychological harassment, death threat and other cases of conducting violence within a family'' – is stated on the website of the organization. See findings of the study... Source:www.gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On 17 March, 2016 International Law Students Association Georgia (ILSA Georgia) held its first student scientific conference regarding ''The Contemporary Challenges in International Criminal and International Human Rights Law'' at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Academic Building I, Room 115. ''Conference was organized by ILSA Georgia in cooperation with International Law Institute of Tbilisi State University, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Winners and participants were awarded with English language Certificates and encouraging prizes from ILSA Georgia. Besides, winners were awarded with practical courses at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and outstanding participants Omar Mtivlishvili, Ana Tabagari and Tamar Oniani were also awarded with free courses at LEPL Levan Mikeladze Diplomatic Training Center by Irine Bartaia, Director of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and Professor of TSU International Law Institute, . Furthermore, Buba Baghdavadze was named as winner of Best Speaker nomination by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Today, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association made a presentation of a study – ''28 times more costly confiscated property''. ''The study is in regard to legal side of properties, seized by the Tbilisi municipality from Zviad Nazgaidze on the basis of urgent public necessity and transferred to him through direct sale for a symbolic price. GYLA considers it important that law enforcement agencies get interested into the issue of how the seizure of a property from Zviad Nazgaidze and transfer of another property to him through direct sale for a symbolic price comply with law, because these facts might contain signs of a crime committed by relevant public servants of the municipality'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. From July 2016 Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has been implementing the project - Increasing Access to Court Decisions in Georgia. ''Bellow we present an academic paper prepared by Mr. Mendel, which discusses the ways of balancing the interests of freedom of information and privacy. The document is based on the challenges faced by Georgia in regards with access to court decisions, which has become subject of active international discussion as a result of the activities conducted by IDFI'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary submitted a written communication to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. ''The document aims to inform the Committee of Ministers about the state of execution of the so called Garibashvili Group cases. For many years timely and effective investigation of crimes committed by representatives of law enforcement has been problematic in Georgia. Up to date the failure to identify criminals and their impunity has led to the establishment of the systematic abuse of power. The Coalition has familiarized the Committee of Ministers with the reports of international and local organizations concerning the systemic flaws -in the investigation process'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender welcomes the institutional reform planned in the prison system and praises its significant aspects. such as: creation of a facility for preparation for release, opportunities for convicts placed in the low-risk prison facility to get higher education, reduction of the term of administrative detention, introduction of additional allowances for female prisoners, etc. ''The Public Defender hopes that these changes will help to solve problems in the penitentiary system. However, it should be noted that some changes envisaged in the legislative package needs to be revised'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations respond to the developments in Batumi. ''We, the signatory organizations, condemn the acts of violence and vandalism that took place in Batumi at night on March 11-12, 2017, irrespective of their cause, and urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, comprehensive and objective investigation of the incident'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) continues defending interests of individuals, illegally dismissed from their job. ''The Tbilisi Court of Appeals has satisfied an appeal of Ana Subeliani and Tamaz Akhobadze. According to the decision, dismissed individuals will be reinstated in their positions'' – is stated on the website of GYLA. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes an analysis of crimes committed against Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2016. ''According to the data of the last year, aggression usually takes place in a public space and Jehovah's Witnesses are assaulted during their preaching in the street. Quantitatively cases of invasion into homes of members of the community and damage of a private property (2 cases) have been decreased, however a similar problem still exists'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender is echoing the statement of the Minister of Justice released by one of the media outlets on 1 March, 2017, according to which, Ucha Nanuashvili served as a witness for Ivane Merabishvili in the Strasbourg Court. We’d like to note that this statement clearly distorts the real picture and aims to mislead the public. ''It is likely that Ms. Minister wants to ascribe the blame to others for her mistake. If the Prosecutor’s Office had taken into account the Public Defender’s recommendation as early as in 2013-2014, our country might have not lost a case in the European Court and neither would it be needed to appeal against the decision in the Grand Chamber'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Supreme Court of Georgia declared the appeal of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (MOESD) against the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) inadmissible. "The Ministry argued that the decision of Tbilisi City Court, according to which the appeal of IDFI was fully granted and the entity was directed to disclose information on different administrative expenses of 2014, such as bonuses and salary supplements, business trip and roaming expenses, simplified procurements and etc. was in conflict with existing legislation. IDFI referred to MOESD with a freedom of information (FOI) request on March 3, 2015, however, even after two years the Ministry has still not provided us with the information”, is noted in the statement. In full… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Child witnessing domestic violence may be granted the status of a victim. This initiative has been proposed by Ana Abashidze, the Head of "Partnership for Human Rights”. Another initiative is related to providing a child with the right of a plaintiff. "Proposals of Ana Abashidze also included such initiatives as publishing protective and restrictive orders on minority languages and, upon necessity, on the braille shift too, which, according to the Deputy Minister of Justice, will be taken into consideration as well” – is stated on the website of the organization. In full… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. On 25-26 February, national rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court were held in the Supreme Court of Georgia. Students of Free University, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Georgian Institute of Public Affairs participated in the competition. By the Public Defender's decision, Ana Jabauri, the best speaker from the Free University, was presented with a bookstore voucher, while two other best participants will have the opportunity to attend the training on International Protection of Refugee, which will be organized by the Human Rights Academy of the Public Defender on March 27-29, 2017”, is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge