Tbilisi. According to the "Liberal", the Tbilisi City Court has found that the "Guerilla Gardeners" have not committed petty hooliganism. The judge has found verbal warning sufficient. For the full text. Source: liberali.ge

Tbilisi. The Association of Young Economists of Georgia has released a statement and responded to the statement of the Prime Minister of Georgia on setting up a special unit in the Prosecutor's Office, which will work on cases of illegal deprivation of property, as well as facts of torture and inhuman treatment. "This initiative raises various questions, and accordingly we find it necessary for the Government to make additional statements clarifying questions related to the issue", the statement says. For the full text (geo)... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. A new Property Law Textbook was publicly presented with support of the Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project (JILEP) of the East-West Management Institute. The textbook was developed for the law faculty students of the future generation. EWMI-JILEP has selected the Tbilisi State University professor Tamar Shotadze as the author of the book, which was written by taking into account the contemporary teaching methodology. The textbook includes not only law theory, but advices and exercises on the solution of real legal problems. The textbook. Source: www.ewmi-jilep.org

Tbilisi. GYLA's Foundation for the Support of Legal Education has published a practical law manual for schoolchildren and teachers, with support of the German Agency for International Cooperation. The manual aims to promote civil and legal education in general education institutions. The manual. Source: web page of the Law Program of the German Agency for International Cooperation in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has filed a lawsuit on November 18 against the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia and the Penitentiary Department on behalf of A.M. and Z.M. "In 2011-2012, while serving sentences in the penitentiary institutions N8 and N18, these persons were subjected to torture and ill treatment by the institutions' staff. Compensation of proprietary and moral damages inflicted on the plaintiffs is a subject dispute in court". Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association released a statement on the Case of the High-Level Officials of the Defense Ministry.  

Tbilisi. Manual on "Media Law" was published with financial support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). The manual authored by Sergi Jorbenadze, Ushangi Bakhtadze and Zurab Macharadze is intended for use by lawyers, journalists and persons researching media law. Manual "Media Law". Source: web page of GIZ in the social network.

Tbilisi. GYLA calls upon the law-enforcement bodies to investigate the alleged pressure, exerted against the Isani district deputy Gamgebeli. "The deputy Gamgebeli of the Isani district of the Tbilisi city – Besik Donadze has addressed Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association for legal assistance. Besik Donadze stated that he is being pressured into quitting his position. ...We call upon the law-enforcements to examine the pressure, exerted against Besik Donadze and to make proper response to ensure avoidance of the politically-motivated discrimination, to protect the human rights and ensure the supremeacy of the law". For the full text Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On September 18, in the conference hall of Human Rights House Tbilisi, NGOs – Human Rights Center, "Article 42 of Constitution”, "Transparency InternationalGeorgia” and "Public Ombudsman” held a press conference regarding illegal firing of patrol policeman, Joseb Abuladze. Non-governmental organizations request "the Chief Prosecutor to start objective investigation of illegal actions carried out by Senior officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, study the case of firing Joseb Abuladze and give relevant respond against pressure and persecution carried out towards him”. For the full text… Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender released a statement regarding deaths of convicts D.A. and N.S. in Penitentiary Establishment N17. "The Public Defender believes that death of three inmates in three days (On September 16 link) clearly indicates a problem existing in the penitentiary system with regards to protection of life, health and safety.   It is necessary to review work practice of workers of penitentiary establishments. Workers of the penitentiary department and medical personnel should pay better attention to requests and complaints of inmates, timely identify risk factors and take appropriate measures. It is necessary to strengthen coordinated work of security and regime workers, social workers, psychologists, and other medical staff of a penitentiary establishment to prevent facts of suicide". For the full text  Source: ombudsman.ge

Adjara. The German-Caucasian School "European Criminal Law" was opened on September 8 in the Constitutional Court. The project aims to deliver seminars to students and practicing lawyers in the South Caucasian states in the European criminal law and form an internal Caucasian dialogue. The School has 5 Azerbaijani, 5 Armenian and 15 Georgian students. German professors will deliver lectures on the European criminal law and the European Convention of Human Rights.All 25 students of the School will receive the Law Faculty certificates from the Humboldt University in Berlin.

Tbilisi. On August 26, Human Rights Center held press-conference about physical assault of a citizen by police officers in the Vake Saburtalo district police unit # 2. "On August 14, about 1:00 am, Giorgi Tsomaia applied to the police unit # 2 located in Vazha-Pshavela Avenue close to his home and asked police officer on duty to return his cell-phone which police had seized from him during previous imprisonment. ...Giorgi Tsomaia clarified that senior police officer at the police unit # 2 called him "greenhorn” and rudely asked why he had applied to the police during night hours. ...the senior police officer took him into the room and about eleven persons (supposedly they were all police officers) ruthlessly beat Tsomaia. Tsomaia said they beat him in the chest, head and belly; they degraded and sputtered him". For the full text Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has started to study the case of the death of the prisoner Jido Pirtskheliani in Rustavi penitentiary institution N6, on 17 August, 2014. He will also monitor the course of investigation. "In the view of the Public Defender of Georgia the sole reference to the impermissibility of video surveillance in the toilet contained in the official statement of the Ministry of Corrections does not address the question whether all reasonable measures have been taken. Hence it is necessary to ensure conduct of prompt and thorough investigation. In the meantime, with a view to avoiding any doubts as to the independence and impartiality of the investigation, it is decisive the investigative measures to be carried out directly by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia. As an ultimate goal, both the family and the public at large should receive reliable answers to all questions arisen". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The "Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center", "Georgian Young Lawyers' Association of Georgia" and "Transparency International - Georgia" have presented a joint study on July 30. The study carried out by the organizations covers the system of accountability of the judges and includes the analysis of domestic legislation on the liability of judges, international standards and the best practices of other states. Further, the study reviews the practice of disciplinary and criminal liability of judges. The study was carried out as part of the Coalition "For Independent and Transparent Justice". Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia addresses the incident taking place on July 19, nearby the "Surb Echmiadzin” Church in Tbilisi and urges the law enforcement officials to investigate precisely and efficiently the incident to avoid further escalation of the situation. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The Young Lawyers' Association has organized a two-day training in Bazaleti for journalists in the justice and criminal issues. Training covers topics such as the key functions of the High Council of Justice, decision-making by the Council, transparency of sessions, attendance of interested persons at the sessions, coverage of the sessions, appointment, transfer, mission of the judges, etc. Journalists working in different regions have attended the training. For the full text. Source: tavisupali.ge

Tbilisi. Organization the "Young Barristers” have filed a lawsuit against insurance company "IC GROUP” in Tbilisi City Court demanding compensation of 4643.75 GEL incurred due to an insurance incident.   "The organization has been demanding performance of contractual obligations by "IC GROUP” since September 30th 2013 but in vain; none of the letters addressed to the chief executive director of the company Temur Merzurnishvili have resulted in an action yet". For the full text Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. According to the "Liberal" magazine, the City Court has invalidated the decision of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection on the annulment of Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani's status of cultural heritage monument. CSO "Green Alternative" has been challenging the Minister's relevant order in court. For the full text (geo) Source: liberali.ge

Imereti. The Kutaisi Branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the Foundation for the Support of Legal Education have organized in the Kutaisi City Court a legal olympiad "Young Lawyers for Fair, Free and Transparent Elections".The olympiad aimed to popularize elections and election law among students; deepen knowledge of election law; raise the skills of academic writing, oral presentations and substantiated debating; to get students familiar with practicalities of proceedings on electoral disputes and promote the development of relevant skills of parties to such proceedings; popularize court decisions on electoral disputes. For the full text. Source: web page of the organization's branch in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has published a blog post - "How are the judges appointed in Georgia?". "Last week started off with an important event - the High Council of Justice of Georgia has voted for the candidates on 34 vacant positions of the judges Georgia-wide. Yet, almost none of media outlets have expressed interest in this event. Accordingly, the citizens know nothing about the fact that on May 27 persons were selected, who in the nearest future may decide on their fate or key issues for the entire society," says the blog post. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Organization the "Young Barristers” address Tbilisi Mayoral election candidates concerning the "Kindergartens case” and request an expression of clear position. According to lawyer of the organization – Nino Isakadze, "the prosecutor’s office of Georgia has commenced proceedings on the case in order to define legality of decisions made by high-ranking officials. According to the Tbilisi government resolution dated August 2007, which launched an optimization process of Tbilisi Kindergartens, the institutes transformed into non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal persons and based on decision of the City Hall, the managers of kindergartens were appointed on directors’ positions for a definite period of time. The city government did not fulfill its promise, according to which a contract must have been drafted with the directors. Instead, the city hall announced a call for directors in kindergartens, while none of the director positions in the city had been vacant". For the full text Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. The Appellate Court has left on April 29 in force the decision of the Tbilisi City Court, by which the Tbilisi City Hall is obligated to provide to media.ge the requested information. In particular, "Media.Ge has requested public information on 20 February 2013 from the City Hall on amounts transferred to media outlets. The City Hall has informed the edition about the amounts transferred to several media outlets only. Media.Ge has appealed incomplete provision of information in the Tbilisi City Court and won the case. The City Hall still has not issued the information and appealed the City Court's decision in the Appellate Court... The Appellate Court has left the City Court's decision in force, by which the City Hall is obligated to issue the requested information," says media.ge. For the full text (geo) Source: media.ge