Tbilisi. Taking into consideration high public interest, on August 5, 2015 the Public Defender has studied the decision made by the Public Affairs Collegium of Tbilisi City Court with regard to "Rustavi 2”. According to the decision, the court seized shares of partners in the "Broadcasting Company Ruastavi 2” LTD.  ''Based on the abovementioned, the Public Defender considers that the Court's judgment on application of measures of satisfying a complaint violates the principle of proportionality of restriction of rights. The court limited the property right to a greater extent than was required by the plaintiff's legitimate goal, which, in turn, could create a real threat to the realization of freedom of expression by television stations''. The Public Defender continues to watch and survey the events developing around the case within its mandate. In full... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Coalition for "Independent and Transparent Judiciary” comments on the process of selection-appointment of judges, which took place in July of current year. The process, as mentioned in the statement released by the coalition, "was characterized with particular low degree of transparency and openness. …It is considered that transparency of the selection-appointment process of judges is important in order to ensure trust of the society towards independence of judges and court system. While the closure of this process will not facilitate both the improvement of the court system and the increase of its authority among professional layers and in the view of wider society”. In full… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association announces its statement in respect of events connected with Rustavi 2. In the opinion of GYLA legal case on broadcasting company should be handled with high standard of transparency and publicity, while the politicians should refrain from comments, which may affect independent decision-making of the court.  In full… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. By its ruling dated 29 May 2015, the Tbilisi Appellate Court has rejected the appellate complaint of the Ministry of Interior against IDFI, the organization's web page states. "The Appellate Court has upheld the first instance court decision and the Ministry of Interior was instructed to issue full information by months on the bonuses and supplements issued to the Minister, Deputy Ministers and Department Heads in 2013, by indicating names and surnames separately. ... The judge explained that the right to data protection is not an absolute right and based on the Convention the state enjoys the possibility of establishing balance in view of public interests between this right and the freedom of information", the organization's web page states. Read more... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. CSOs have released a statement over individuals detained and fined during a peaceful rally "No to Panorama". "We are concerned by the fact that the court has failed to duly assess unjustified interference by the police in the freedom of assembly and expression of detained persons. ... We urge all three branches of government and each of their representative to fulfill duties taken under the Constitution and not only to respect the rights and freedoms warranted by the Constitution, but to do their best within their powers for supporting the realization of these rights in practice and protecting them from improper interferences", the joint statement says. Read more... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Representatives of the Public Defender's office, UN Children's Fund, office of the Personal Data Protection Inspector and other state agencies and CSOs have discussed the need to protect personal data and fill the gaps on July 29 in the office of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. With the Foundation's support, CSO "Initiative for Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Groups" has carried out over 6 months a legal analysis of protection of children's personal data in the penitentiary system. This CSO continues working on issues related to protection of children's data in the penitentiary system. Read more... Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center urges the authorities to timely set up an effective investigation mechanism for crimes committed by law-enforcers. The center once again expresses "concerns over increased human rights violations in the police stations"... Read more... Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has appealed in the Constitutional Court the amendments made to the Resolution of the Government of Georgia on 1 June 2013. ''Under this Resolution, for the purposes of registering in the database of socially unprotected, the state no longer examines the applications by the homeless families, which have illegally occupied the state facilities; as a result, families living in extreme poverty are deprived of the possibility of receiving the subsistence, which in most of the cases is a sole source of their income. ...'', the organization's web page states. Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. ''On December 15, 2014 the Public Defender of Georgia proposed the Parliament to introduce changes into the Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia, concerning the possibility of submitting ''Amicus Curiae'' on administrative proceedings.  The Parliament of Georgia accepted the suggestion of the Public Defender and by the legislative change of July 3, 2015, the Article 161 was added to the Administrative Procedure Code, which allows not only the Ombudsman, but also to any person, to submit their written observations on the merits before the substantial consideration of a case by the court. It should be noted that ''Amicus Curiae'' briefs were first introduced in the United States and this practice is widely used in the legal system of continental Europe; it is also actively used by the European Court of Human Rights''. For the full information... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. CSO ''Young Barristers'' has commented on the reform of Georgian law-enforcement bodies, hailing the planned amendments as a step towards increased control from the public.  ''Changes in the system of MIA and Prosecutors Office impose high political responsibility over the Government and increases its social accountability. In the period of the former Government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Prosecutor’s Office were formed as Agencies of systemic crimes and an excess power of these agencies were used for private political purposes. The main advantage of the reform, is that the supervisory role of the Parliament will increase, as the Chief Prosecutor and the Head of the State Security Service are going to be accountable to the Parliament, the body, elected by people. Accordingly, social trust towards the above mentioned agencies, as well as their institutional independence, will increase'', the organizations web page says... Read more... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Coalition "For an Independent and Transparent Judiciary" has released a statement on the preliminary opinion by the Venice Commission. On July 7, the Venice Commission, the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCEP) and the OSCE/ODIHR have released a preliminary opinion on draft amendments to the Law of Georgia "on the Prosecutor's Office". The conclusion released by the Coalition states: "We would like to once again stress the key remarks and recommendations provided in the preliminary opinion, taking into account of which is crucial for implementing a tangible reform within the Prosecutor's Office system"... Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. With support of the German Agency for International Cooperation, the Professional Association of Judicial Servants of Georgia and the Tbilisi Appellate Court are implementing a joint project, within the framework of which a web page was set up - teen.court.ge – which aims to raise legal awareness of the future generations. On the site youngsters will find materials tailored to them: legal case studies, illustrated books with entertaining and informative content, legal dictionary for children (dictionary is integrated with the web page), tests (several levels of various topics and difficulty), through which the schoolchildren will test their knowledge. For the full text... Source: teen.court.ge

Tbilisi. A round table on "Judicial Reform and Current Challenges" was held on June 30. Representatives of judicial authorities, CSOs, Ministry of Justice, practicing lawyers and legal experts have participated in the meeting. The round table has focused on the planned events as part of the third phase of the judicial reform, expected legislative amendments and potential problems and challenges of implementing these amendments in practice. The event was organized as part of the project "Strategic Legal Proceedings for Protection of Fundamental Human Rights", implemented by CSO "Article 42 of the Constitution" with support from the "Open Society – Georgia" Foundation. For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. June 26 is the international day in support of victims of torture. Georgian Young Lawyers Association calls on authorities to provide immediate and independent investigation of torture and ill-treatment facts. "The key mechanism and direct responsibility of the State to fight to torture is development of not only the legal regulations and action plans but, first of all, timely, impartial and transparent investigation of torture cases and punishment of perpetrators. The State response to torture and ill-treatment facts is incomplete and ineffective” – said in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. NGOs appeal to Members of Parliament concerning the draft law prepared for "Safety Service”. "… We appreciate the initiative of separation of police and security services. However, we think that separation should have an actual content and form not only institutional but functional division basis. The proposed bill does not provide the mentioned guarantee”… Read more… Source: www.gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers Association responds to information broadcast by Kakheti Information Centre concerning "pressure facts upon media representatives”. Article dated June 23, 2015 "Due to publication of caricature a journalist is threatened with death in Georgia” says that "journalists are being threatened”. GYLA calls on the investigatory authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and stop any pressure. Read more… Source: www.gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has presented a new study on June 18: "Invisible power policy – law-enforcement system analysis". The study provides a large-scale analysis of law-enforcement system and examines all major institutional gaps found within the systems of the Ministry of Interior, Prosecutor's Office and penitentiary institutions. The study was produced with financial support of the "Open Society – Georgia" Foundation. The study... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On June 17, the Coalition "For an Independent and Transparent Judiciary" has organized a forum on the state policy towards human rights violations committed in the past. According to submitted recommendations, the justice execution process must be safeguarded from political retaliaitons... For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has commented on the Prime Minister's June 8 statement over Giorgi Okropiridze's case and ensuing actions by the Prosecutor's Office. For the full text... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA has released a statement, in which the organization welcomes "the June 5 ruling of the Tbilisi City Court in connection with detained high officials of the Ministry of Defense, the so-called ''Cables'' case. For the full text... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Association of Young Financiers and Businessmen – AFBA has held a briefing to discuss the alienation of shares of ''People's Bank''. The organization urges the Prosecutor's Office ''to express interest in issues relating to criminal actions of the head of the country's chief financial institute''. For the full text... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia releases information, according to which the organization "has won a case against the Ministry of Interior over issuing of public information". For the full text... Source: transparency.ge