Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations address to the Parliament of Georgia regarding creation of an investigative commission on the "ODR” issue. ''We, undersigning organizations, address to the Parliament of Georgia to respond to the current developments at the Tbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili State University in a timely manner, in particular to the repeatedly voiced information about existence of the "ODR” at the University and to create a temporary investigative commission in order to study the issue'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full... Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Prosecutor’s Office Granted the Appeal of IDFI. ''According to information received from the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, the office received a total of 52,530 complaints/statements (including 10,379 requests to launch an investigation) from October 1, 2012 to January 1, 2015. Out of these, 697 requests were related to illegal confiscation of property, 3,495 to crimes committed by law enforcement and prison employees, and 6,187 were classified as other. Unfortunately, the prosecutor’s office did not specify their course of action in relation to the above 10,379 applications'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition once again expounds about the "Third Wave” of the Judicial Reform and presents considerations about the updated version of the legislative changes within the reform framework. ''In our opinion, the draft law includes initiatives that would encourage elimination of certain weaknesses in the judicial system and improve regulation. However, in the light of current system crisis and low confidence of the public, it is important that the government expresses readiness with respect to implementation of further reforms. Moreover, the Coalition’s position is that enactment of the presented changes and progressive provisions is of substantial importance for independence of judicial system, reduction of the current crisis and increasing efficiency of changes'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary addresses to the Prime Minister. ''Our direct participation into the activities of the commission evidently revealed that the appraisals, made by the members, representing executive authorities and the ruling political party, were based not on defining compliance of candidates with qualification requirements, stipulated by the resolution, but on aiming to support preliminarily determined candidates unconditionally and to ensure their inclusion among those to be introduced to the government, which is why we consider that actually the work of the Commission has lost the sense and the content of the important initiative is undermined'' - is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On 10 March 2016 it became known that the Government of Georgia and the de facto authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia reached an agreement to release prisoners according to the principle - ''all for all''. This move made possible the release of several persons, which had been illegally deprived of their liberty in Tskhinvali and Sokhumi prisons. ''The Public Defender welcomes the dialogue launched between Georgia and the de facto governments on the release of prisoners and believes that the move will promote restoration of confidence between the parties and will contribute to further stability. The right to freedom and security is enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia and international conventions, and the Georgian Government is obliged to make every effort to safeguard this right'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On March 4, the Coalition for an ''Independent and Transparent Judiciary'' held the action at the High Council of Justice. The Coalition addressed an official statement to the Council, in order to stop the process of appointment of the candidate for the position of Chairman of the Tbilisi City Court. In full… Source: The web-page of the Coalition in a social network

Tbilisi. ''Young Barristers'' releases a special statement regarding the competition for selection of the Head of Administration of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. The organization calls on the Rector of the University and the Academic Council to "stop immediately the chancellor selection process, which based on made decisions has already become illegal and illegitimate". In full… Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' association releases statement on Magda Papidzes' case.  ''We would like to respond to the interim information released by the Georgian Prosecution Service about Magda Papidze’s criminal case. We believe that type and nature of the report, the terminology used and concrete evidence provided in detail is substantially limiting and harmful to the defendant’s rights. The information may also have a negative impact on future course of the proceedings'', is noted in the statement'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blogpost: "The court recognized the restriction on lawns business, put in force since 2013, illegal”. ''The court accepted presented conclusion of the examination, according to which it was found that the soil fertility was not damaged due to production of lawn and it did not require restoration. As a result, the court concluded that the activity, implementation of which did not harm, should not be regarded as an act prohibited by law, while the person who carried out mentioned activity – as a perpetrator'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations demand the start of an investigation regarding possible disclosure of the judicial qualification exam tests. ''We call on the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia to begin an immediate investigation regarding the facts of possible disclosure of the judicial qualification exam tests and of alleged crime committed by the member of the High Council of Justice'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an ''Independent and Transparent Judiciary'' appeals to the High Council of Justice with the disciplinary complaint against the judges of the Kutaisi City Court, as well as against certain judges of other courts. ''The coalition considers that the public statement of the Kutaisi City Court regarding Mamuka Akhvlediani, likewise unethical and insulting comments, expressed by certain individual judges via internal network, violate the rules of judicial ethics, as well as represent an inappropriate action for a judge that disgraces the reputation of a court or damages the confidence in a court, which is considered as a disciplinary violation by the current legislation'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and Local Democracy Agency have presented to the society the study - ''Immunity as a guarantee''. ''It is necessary to make respective legislative changes into the Georgian legislation on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage of a local self-governance, in order to establish respective guarantees for the protection of individuals, elected through the secret ballot, which, at the same time, should not hamper the interests of the effective prosecution and the justice'' – is stated in the study performed by the organization. In full… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender responds to the media reports on alleged violence against G.G. and A.C. committed on the grounds of ethnicity by law enforcement agencies in Akhmeta municipality on January 23, 2016.  ''The Public Defender reminds law enforcement agencies that the state clearly expressed its policy with regard to the hate crime, when it imposed responsibility for the crime and introduced a special definition. Accordingly, if the crime is committed by a representative of law enforcement agencies, the state is responsible to prove that this policy is not just a paper. The state must use law so that even slightest suspicion of selective justice is not left'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Anti-Violence Network of Georgia publishes an article: "No to violence". ''The amendments to the existing laws against domestic violence have been prepared by the ''Anti-Violence Network of Georgia'' and the Parliament has already adopted them through the second reading. According to the proposal the amendments apply to the ''Local Self-Government Code'' and the law of Georgia on ''Elimination of Domestic Violence, Protection and Support of Victims of Domestic Violence'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source:avng.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary responds to the appointment of an extraordinary conference of the judges of Georgia. ''We call on the XVI extraordinary conference of the judges of Georgia, which is intended to take place on February 1 of the current year, to use this opportunity effectively, unlike the previous conference, and, on the second point of the agenda of the conference, to hold only business, result oriented discussion, related to the necessity of passing a real reform in the judicial system…'' – is noted in the statement of the Coalition. In full... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender has appealed to the Parliament and the State Constitutional Commission with regard to expansion of the authority of the Constitutional Court. The Public Defender believes that it is necessary to expand the powers of the Constitutional Court, and accordingly, the areal of its constitutional control.  ''The Constitutional Court examines the constitutionality of only normative acts in relation to the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Chapter 2 of the Constitution of Georgia, while the bill suggests examination of constitutionality of individual legal acts and enforced decisions of common courts as well. According to the bill, the authority of the Constitutional Court goes beyond exercising control of norms and carries out constitutional control on the basis of a real claim'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has appealed to the Minister of Internal Affairs with a recommendation to study the legality of the actions committed against a former police inspector.  ''Based on the above, the Public Defender addressed the Minister of Internal Affairs with a recommendation to study the issues of V.C.’s dismissal, his adequate labour compensation as well as his compensation for the damages caused by the unlawful detention. In addition, the Public Defender considers that the alleged disciplinary offense committed by V.C.’s commander should be studied as well. The Public Defender recommends the Minister to personally study the existing gaps in the work of the General Inspection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs'', is noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia declares that ''the Deputy Minister of Interior is obliged to follow the presumption of innocence''. ''As a summary of the practice of the European Court, it can be said that the accusing party is also obliged to follow the presumption of innocence, particularly in the case, when a statement is made not within the format of a criminal case proceeding at the court, but through a press conference or a television interview. In such cases it is important that public information be provided only in the form of description of facts, without evaluating, declaratory judgment'' - is stated on the web-page of the organization. In Full... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association on behalf of 10 participants of the action ''no to panorama'' has applied to the European Court of Human Rights. ''GYLA has applied to the European Court of Human Rights based on the Articles - 5 (right to liberty and security), 10 (freedom of expression), 11 (right of assembly) and 18 (limitation on the use of restrictions on rights) of the European Convention'' - is stated on the web-page of the organization. In Full... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Government of Georgia endorsed the package of legislative amendments to strengthen legal safeguards for children working and living on the streets and those of victims of domestic violence. The legislative package was developed by the working group comprising different governmental, non-governmental organizations and UNICEF. ''UNICEF welcomes the efforts of the Government of Georgia and in particular, the Ministry of Justice in elaborating these important legislative changes which are in full compliance with international standards and serve the best interests of children'', said Sascha Graumann, UNICEF Representative in Georgia.  In full... Source: unicef.ge