Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association echoes the incident in Batumi and expresses concerns "over the actions of the Head of the Adjara Department of the MoI Valerian Telia, who has physically and verbally insulted GYLA employees" – says GYLA's statement.GYLA demands timely, impartial and effective investigation, as well as to impose respective official responsibility on Valerian Telia. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge 

Adjara. On March 21, the Batumi Civic Engagement Center has organized the discussion on the "Liberalization of the Criminal Code". Meeting participants have discussed the key objective and areas of the Georgian criminal justice reform, as well as its compliance with the liberal criminal policies. Chairman of the Batumi City Court Davit Mamiseishvili, Deputy Prosecutor of Adjara Irakli Imerlishvili, Chairman of the Adjara Branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association GiaKartsivadze and the lecturer of the Batumi University Maia Katamadze have participated in the discussion. Representatives of the civil society and media have attended the discussion as well.

Tbilisi. The conference on "Transitional period justice in Georgia" was held on March 9 with the support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation, attended by the members of the Parliament and Government of Georgia and representatives of diplomatic corps, international and local organizations.The honorary president of the Open Society Foundations, the founder of Human Rights Watch and numerous influential international human rights organizations, AryehNeier and the former CoE Commissioner for Human Rights and currently the EU Special Adviser in Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Thomas Hammarberg have appeared as guests of the conference.During the conference, issues related to transitional justice, challenges of Georgia and international experience were discussed. For the full text. Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association echoes the wrong application of the Law of Georgia on Amnesty in the judicial practice. GYLA focuses on the cases of convicted for swindling, in which case the law was not interpreted fairly. "The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association considers it necessary to remind as the law-enforcement agencies as well as the courts that they should use the Law on Amnesty in view of its purpose and the individual's interests, with observance of requirements of legality and fairness", says the statement posted on the web site. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. "Transparency International - Georgia" has activated the hot line for free legal aid in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Zugdidi. Those who think that the state violates their rights, they were deprived of the property illegally, experienced problems when legalizing the property or cannot benefit from the rights guaranteed by the state insurance, can call the hot line for free legal aid at: Tbilisi: (32) 260 15 08; Batumi: (422) 29 44 88; Kutaisi: (431) 29 26 54; Zugdidi: (415) 22 37 20.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi.Transparency International – Georgia has released a statement on the web site "Why we disagree with financial amnesty initiated by the President". The statement says that the President of Georgia has sent to the Parliament the draft Law of Georgia on the "Amnesty and Legalization of Non-Declared Tax Liabilities and Property", which provides for the exemption of persons having committed certain types of financial and economic crimes from responsibility. We believe that the spirit and content of this draft Law raises many questions and contradicts the principle of restoration of justice and the idea of a competitive business environment." For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. 11 NGOs demanded response to the facts of inhumane treatment practiced in the penitentiary system in recent years and released the statement on February 4. "Ineffective investigation into the facts of torture and inhumane treatment was a factor fostering impunity for years. Yet, as the effective investigation is a key point in the fight against torture and inhumane treatment, it must be the priority task of the authorities”, says the statement. NGOs put forth their demands with respect to effective investigation of facts occurring in penitentiary institutions and call on the authorities to undertake efficient steps for rehabilitation of victims. For the full text:  Source: gyla.ge

Kartli. On January 29, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has organized a meeting in the Gori Civic Engagement Center. The meeting concerned the analysis of criminal and administrative violations cases against citizens arrested by previous authorities, which GYLA has examined.Broad spectrum of representatives of the society has attended the meeting: representatives of political parties, CSOs, media and active citizens. Meeting participants were provided with the second part of the book published by GYLA – "An Analysis of Allegedly Politically Motivated Criminal and Administrative Violations Cases”, which analyzes several additional cases. In addition, the small brochures bearing the same title were handed out in English and Georgian languages. The Book – "An Analysis of Allegedly Politically Motivated Criminal and Administrative Violations Cases”.

Tbilisi.The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has released the legal conclusion on the draft Constitutional Law of Georgia on "Amendments to the Constitution of Georgia", on the publication of which and creation of all-public examination and organizational commission the Parliament of Georgia has adopted the resolution on 28 December 2012. The Conclusion. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The "Coalition for Independent and Transparent Justice" echoes the draft law developed by the Ministry of Justice concerning the regulations of examination of cases of high public interest by the jury trials. In respect of these issues the Coalition released the statement and addressed the Parliament. The Coalition's Address. Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Liberty Institute welcomes the initiative of the Government to apply the right to jury trials to the cases of high officials. "This initiative is a step forward towards building the legal state in Georgia, however, in order to achieve the goal of the reform – realization of the right to impartial and fair court and increasing the public trust towards the justice process – the draft requires improvement," says the statement of the Liberty Institute. In its statement the Liberty Institute discusses concrete initiatives in this regard. For the full text. Source: liberty.ge  

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association echoes the information disseminated on December 19 and addresses the law-enforcement agencies to immediately launch investigation in connection with the circumstances described in the report of the judge’s assistant.According to the information disseminated on December 19, the representative of special service was exerting pressure on the judge’s assistant for obtaining various types of information from the court and making her to agree to cooperate with the special services.The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association believes that "in this case, the elements of crime foreseen under the Criminal Code may have taken place, and urges the law-enforcement agencies to immediately launch investigation in connection with the circumstances described in the report of the judge’s assistant.GYLA notes as well that the independence of courts is safeguarded by the supreme law of Georgia – the Constitution, and exercising any type of influence through such methods on the independence of justice is unacceptable.” Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Foundation for the Support of Legal Education, founded by the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, has traditionally organized the olympiad in the Constitutional Court of Georgia titled: "Young Lawyers for Constitutional Rights". The annual olympiad is held for the last 6 years. This year, 8 teams consisting of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students of the bachelor's degree programs of the Tbilisi State University and the University of Georgia have participated in the olympiad. The olympiad was headed by the jury consisting of the members of the Constitutional Court, field specialists, teacher-professors and the judge from Germany. The closing ceremony has revealed the winner team, best claimant, best respondent, the choice of the Constitutional Court, the choice of the Foundation for the Support of Legal Education, and the chosen one of the jury. The financial supporter, organization "IRZ" has named the best player, awarded with the chief price. Source:gyla.ge

Guria. On November 28, the Guria Youth Resource Center has presented a new project to the representatives of local NGO and media organizations.The project titled "Promoting the Reintegration and Development of Juvenile Delinquents on Probation" was funded by the EU.The project aims to promote democratic processes and its tasks are the promotion of reintegration and resocialization of juvenile delinquents on probation; creation of effective institutional mechanisms and guidelines for improving the state of juvenile delinquents on probation.The Guria Youth Resource Center will implement the project in partnership with the Union for Democratic Development of Georgia.

Tbilisi. On November 12 the Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association presented the study – "Gaps of the Criminal Justice and Recommendations”. The new Criminal Procedure Code was enacted in 2010. In the study GYLA has examined as the legislative environment, as well as the developed practice and concluded that there are still gaps such as the conformity of norms regulating the detection of crime and investigation with the European standards on human rights, insufficient mechanisms of securing the impartiality of the jury trials institute, etc.Based on the European standards of human rights, GYLA offers to relevant agencies concrete recommendations for the elimination of these problems. For full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and "Article 42 of the Constitution" quit their activities in the working group examining the cases of persons arrested and persecuted on political grounds. The working group was set up on November 1 with the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and Civil Integration. The organizations GYLA and "Article 42 of the Constitution" welcome this initiative, yet, the statement says that the work of the group has revealed number of problems undermining the effective work of the group: working format and timelines do not provide a possibility to thoroughly examine the issue."We believe that it is impossible to prepare full conclusions on the cases of 185 political prisoners and 13 politically persecuted persons within the two-week deadline and the format determined by the group. We are aware that it is not intended to extend the deadline of the working group's mandate, which makes it impossible to examine the issue thoroughly. Despite our several attempts, the format of the working group could not be changed and the agreement on the above could not be reached", – the statement says.Although the organizations quit their activities in the format of the working group, they express readiness to submit their cases and conclusions to the group and assist it in this respect. For full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi.The "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy”, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and "Transparency International – Georgia” appeal to the Government of Georgia to probe into the cases of politically-motivated dismissals."As part of the 2012 pre-election environment monitoring, the "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy”, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and "Transparency International – Georgia” have studied and released numerous facts of politically-motivated pressure on citizens. Dismissal from the public sector on political grounds was among one of the most frequent cases”, – says the statement. The statement. Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. "Transparency International – Georgia" echoes illegal "hackings" of citizens by law-enforcement bodies in the field of telecommunications. The organization calls on the new authorities to investigate the facts of illegal "hackings" of citizens in the country. It finds equally important for all operators functioning in Georgia to publicly disclose their information concerning the illegal activities. For full text. Source:transparency.ge

Imereti. On October 25, the members of the Kutaisi Youth Center have visited the Kutaisi Appellate Court. They got familiar with the pending court reforms, met with the speaker-judges and discussed issues such as the jury trial institute, rules of covering the trials, juvenile justice, etc.The study tour was organized as part of the project "Advancing National Integration in Georgia" (ANI), which is implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG), with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). For full text. Source:kedec.ge

Tbilisi. The civil society organization "Article 42 of Constitution" responds to the statement of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia, which he had made when meeting with the diplomatic corps. For full text Source: article42.ge

Adjara. The civil society organization "Article 42 of Constitution” has organized two-day training for local advocates on September 7-8 in Batumi. Topic of the training was "the institute of amicus curiae in the legal proceedings”, during which the advocates have heard the assessments of the organization’s experts and received practical tips. The training was delivered as part of the project "Promoting the Introduction of the Criminal Procedure Code”. The project is supported by the "National Endowment for Democracy” (NED). For full text. Source: article42.ge

Tbilisi. The UK-based Center for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) has trained 18 Georgian delegates in mediation. Majority of training participants will receive the international accreditation of CEDR in order to work as mediators and participate in the JILEP-funded court-annexed mediation pilot project, which will launch in the fall of 2012. The court-annexed mediation pilot project foresees cooperation among USAID/JILEP, Tbilisi City Court, High Council of Justice of Georgia, National center of Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Tbilisi State University (TSUNCADR), and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). The project aims to increase access to justice and enhance judicial efficiency in Georgia. For full text Source: ewmi-jilep.org