Tbilisi. The Public Defender has been following the recent recruitment of judges by the High Council of Justice, as the process has a substantial impact on a state oriented to protection of human rights, rule of law and democratic order.  ''Independent and impartial judiciary can be primarily guaranteed by the selection of the kind of personnel which fully meet the high status of a judge. The main axis of impeded function of the judiciary is a judge and therefore, it is necessary the state to ensure effective selection of the personnel'', is noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On November 30th, participants of the training course - "Open Parliament - Voice of Youth" visited the Parliament of Georgia in Tbilisi. The visit was organized within the framework of the project "Supporting Involvement of the Parliament of Georgia in the Open Government Partnership".  ''Tamar Kordzaia expressed her gratitude to the IDFI for its active work and support for increasing openness and transparency of the Parliament. MP talked about the importance of youth engagement in the legislative work since the laws the Parliament passes directly or indirectly affect every citizen indiscriminately at some point in life thus students should inform themselves on the work of the Parliament'', is noted in the statement. In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association responds to the amendments, to be made into the law on ''Special Penitentiary Service''. ''In accordance with both the current law and the proposed amendments, it is defined that the candidate for a particular job, as a rule, will be selected on the basis of a special competition. We consider that the combination of words ''as a rule'' gives rise to a wide discretion with regard to the regulations of hiring personnel. In case if the mentioned combination of words applies to the list of positions to be approved by the Minister and not covered by the special rules of the competition, we believe that it is better to make a reference norm with respect to particularly this case, instead of obscure record, which in its essence is not in line with the requirements of the law foreseeability'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The comments of non-governmental organizations have not been considered in the process of the reform of a prosecution system, initiated by the government of Georgia to ensure the independence of the Prosecutor’s Office. ''We call on the members of the Parliament that while considering a candidacy on the position of the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia, to take into account a number of faults, which has been accompanying the process of nomination and selection of a candidate and due to which, a number of groups has refused to take part in this process. The Parliament has to acknowledge the political responsibility, which is associated with the decision, to be made by it'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full… Source:idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition negatively assesses the High Council of Justice’s decision from November 16, 2015 to appoint seven judges to Tbilisi Appellate Court based on a non-competitive process. We believe that this process is not only unhelpful for promoting public trust in the judiciary, but also raises questions regarding the objectives and motivation of the HCOJ and overall success of the ongoing reforms in the judicial system.  In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On 19 November 2015 Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili presented a special report of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) on the requests/complaints procedures in the penitentiary system. ''The aim of the National Preventive Mechanism was to find out how safe, available, confidential and impartial the requests/complaints procedures were in the first quarter of 2015, as well as whether they were responded timely and if the decision-making was justified'', is noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On November 17, 2015, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili and the representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iasen Tomov, presented results of a project carried out for raising awareness of the rule of law and access to judiciary in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region to the representatives of the Zugdidi local government and non-governmental organizations. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On November 12, 2015, First Deputy Public Defender Paata Beltadze participated in the meeting of the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission’s Working Group on Democracy and Governance. The meeting focused on the state of human rights, rule of law and governance, as well as development of democratic institutions in Georgia. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia considers that the appointment/promotion of judges has an essential importance for a state oriented to democratic order, rule of law and human rights. Selection of the kind of personnel that fully meet the high status of the judge is a primary guarantee of independent and impartial judiciary.  ''The Public Defender considers that in terms of evaluating the competence of judges it is important that the results of the Public Defender's monitoring of the hearing of cases by common courts, as well as the Public Defender's parliamentary reports and recommendations provided to certain judges about launching disciplinary proceedings, be taken into account'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. ''The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)'' filed the complaint at the Tbilisi City Court against the State Agency for Religious Affairs, demanding to obtain public information. In full… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The organization - "Young Barristers” comments on the pre-judgment circumstances, related to the ruling, endorsed by the Tbilisi City Court on November 5 of the year 2015. ''I consider that the defenders of legitimate interests of the TV Company made significant mistake when, after the decision of the court on November 3, they did not apply to the constitutional court and contest the matter of the constitutionality of Article 198 of the Civil Procedure Code'' – declares the head of Young Barristers. In full… Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association calls on the Prosecutor’s Office to start immediate investigation of the fact of physical abuse of the barrister Giorgi Mdinaradze, allegedly carried out by the staff of MIA. ''GYLA has been extremely concerned regarding the fact of physical violence against the barrister Giorgi Mdinaradze, allegedly carried out by the staff of MIA on November 8. GYLA calls on the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate current case quickly, thoroughly and impartially and to prosecute all relevant individuals'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender calls on the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the fact of violence committed against Legal Service lawyer Giorgi Mdinaradze, ensure correct categorization of the crime and identify perpetrators. Criminal prosecution should be launched in the shortest possible time, while procedures should be carried out for preventing pressure, coercion, destruction of evidence, and/or re-offending by alleged perpetrators. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA publishes the information, according to which "the state of Georgia has admitted, in front of the European court, violation of rights of the representative of the Public Defender at the action, held on June 15 of the year 2009. On January 18 of the year 2010, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, in cooperation with the partner organization – European Human Rights Advocacy Center (EHRAC), submitted a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Vakhushti Menabde, who, within the frames of the mandate of the Public Defender of Georgia, acted as an observer at the protest action, held on June 15 of the year 2009. On October 13 of the year 2015, based on the unilateral declaration, submitted by the Georgian government, the European Court issued a ruling, which was published on the web-page of the court on November 5 of the year 2015. With mentioned ruling the European Court excluded the appeal from the list of cases to be reviewed…” – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On 24 and 29 October 2015 Ukrainian sites released secret audio recordings of phone conversations of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili with Nika Gvaramia, Director General of the broadcasting company Rustavi 2, and Giga Bokeria, International Secretary of the United National Movement.  ''The Public Defender calls on the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to survey the legality of the origin and the release of the secret recordings within the framework of an independent investigation in order to realize the principles of the Constitution and the Criminal Code of Georgia'', noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia responds to the legislative initiative, discussed by the Parliament through the second reading. ''Adoption of the bill will have negative consequences for commercial banks, operating in Georgia, microfinance institutions, credit unions, leasing and real estate development companies and citizens, engaged in the real estate business'' – is noted on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International Georgia'' responds to the criticism of the Minister of Justice regarding the introduction of the electronic way of work distribution. ''We regret that the Minister of Justice of Georgia criticizes the efforts of donors, spent through ''Transparency International Georgia'', to promote an increase of transparency in the judicial system'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes the clarification on the decision of the Constitutional Court regarding the case "Beqa Tsiqarishvili against the Parliament of Georgia”. ''The court has made a decision that it is inadmissible to use deprivation of liberty, for any period of time, as a measure of punishment for the purchase-keeping of marijuana for the personal usage purpose'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender is responding to the recent developments of Georgia.  ''First of all, it is important all parties to realize their responsibilities in this tense situation and to refrain from making the kind of statements that may lead to more escalation, violence and aggression'', noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender's Office publishes the results of the study of the applications of convicts. ''The study of the applications of convicts, performed by the Public Defender’s office, shows that the Gori district court does not systematically provide the copies of judgments in criminal cases to the convicts within the deadline, stipulated by the law'' – is stated on the web-page of the Public Defender. In full… Source:www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) sums up the court case against the penitentiary department. ''Present dispute once more reconfirms the necessity of creation of such an efficient mechanism in Georgia, which provides more guarantee to the access to public information'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source:www.idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The organization ''Young Barristers'' addresses to the President regarding the preparation of the next act of grace. ''During the preparation of the next act of grace, the attention to be paid to the case of Givi Dumbadze, imprisoned life sentenced Georgian military servant, who directly represents a victim of the previous government'' – is noted in the statement. In full… Source:www.barristers.ge