Tbilisi. Women’s Movement expresses unconditional solidarity with Ninutsa Makashvili. We hope that the state of Georgia and society will be united in fight against violence, while each attempt of its justification will be strongly condemned. “A few days ago, on the air of Rustavi 2, Ninutsa Makashvili, an actress, spoke about her painful personal experience, according to which years ago she became a victim of systematic domestic violence committed by Beso Zanguri, an actor, her then-husband. In our country, where domestic violence is unfortunately a frequent occurrence, while society is still insufficiently intolerant of this type of crime, victims need to mobilize great strength and courage in order to talk about their experiences openly and publicly. In this reality, even more appreciated and exemplary is the decision of Ninutsa Makashvili to speak loudly about the violence committed by Beso Zanguri, her ex-husband, an actor of Rustaveli National Theater. We believe that her courage will be contagious and become a motivation for many women. It is unacceptable for us that Beso Zanguri, a person exposed in a dangerous crime of domestic violence, who has neither been held responsible for nor expressed any regrets, stands on the stage of Rustaveli National Theater and continues his career as if nothing has happened. Therefore, we demand to have Beso Zanguri quit his professional activities in the theater until the investigation in the case is completed...” Read more... Source: The website of the Movement on a social network

Tbilisi. Group of Independent Lawyers, Rights Georgia and Social Justice Center address To Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.  “On April 1, the Parliament of Georgia adopted amendments to the Law on Common Courts, which also provide for changes in the procedure for the selection of judges of the Supreme Court by the High Council of Justice. Despite the fact that this legislative act is improving the standards of transparency and reasoning of HCOJ decisions, we believe that these procedural amendments cannot change the situation in the judiciary”, - is read in the address.  Read more…   Source: socialjustice.org

Imereti. The Kutaisi Court of Appeals announced its decision on the case of construction of a new mosque in Batumi and left the verdict of the Batumi City Court unchanged. The Court of Appeals agreed with the argument of the Batumi City Court regarding unlawfulness of a refusal of the Batumi City Hall to issue the first stage permit for construction of a new mosque in Batumi and discriminatory treatment of plaintiffs on religious grounds. Interests of a foundation to support construction of a new mosque in Batumi are defended in court by the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) and Social Justice Center (formerly EMC). Read more… Source: tdi.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) appraises the final position of the Government of Georgia in regard to the case of deprivation of life of Temirlan Machalikashvili presented to the European Court of Human Rights and points out that even at the International Court the Government continues to try to discredit the victim and his family and refers to clearly unsubstantiated and fabricated information. “Social Justice Center once again reiterates that justification of accusations against Temirlan Machalikashvili is not a subject of the dispute in the Strasbourg court and this reasoning goes beyond the scope of the application of the Machalikashvili family. That is why we consider that it was fundamentally inappropriate for the Government to present extensive arguments on this issue and form the defense strategy mostly by attempts to discredit Temirlan Machalikashvili”, - is stated in information released by the Center. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association presented a report to the public – “Results of a four-year monitoring of criminal trials”. The report serves to identify practical and legislative shortcomings, including positive trends, as a result of attendance of criminal trials and analysis of identified cases. There are reviewed in the report issues related to criminal proceedings carried out within the period from March 2016 through February 2020, as well as key trends from the beginning of monitoring to the present. Main findings of the report touch upon - preventive measures, implementation of proper judicial control over investigative actions and a plea agreement, shortcomings existing at various stages of a process. The report pays special attention to crimes preconditioned by family, drugs, and social backgrounds. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Signatory organizations respond to developments that occurred yesterday in the Rioni valley and consider it inadmissible to resume construction works of Namakhvani HPP on the background of mobilization of police forces, grossly violating human rights and disregarding demands of the population. “Instead of the state assuming the role of a moderator, focused on the protection of sustainable public interests and goodness, which is based on constitutional principles of a social and legal state, the government office today is entirely on the side of private interest. During the last months, we observed maximum mobilization of police, information, and administrative resources by the Government aiming to neglect and discredit opponents of the construction of Namakhvani HPP. However, today, breaching fundamental rights and applying repressive tools aggressively, the Government refuses to resolve the existing crisis with community groups through democratic dialogue and legal means“, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition member organizations consider it inadmissible to restrict access to the Internet in Namokhvani. “We would like to remind the government that access to the Internet and the right to free usage of the Internet is protected by the Constitution of Georgia. While on the background of high public interest in the ongoing protest rally in Namokhvani, it is unacceptable to restrict the constitutionally guaranteed right unjustifiably. According to the spread information, “the Ministry of Internal Affairs has jammed also the Internet connection in Namokhvani today, due to which fact it is impossible to stream live”.  As the local population state, such a failure of Internet transmission has not been observed in Namokhvani before.  We call on the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia to: Make a statement in regard to the fact of unlawful restriction of freedom of expression;  Take immediate measures to ensure access to the Internet so as to enable people in Namokhvani to exercise the right to receive and transmit information, while journalists have adequate working conditions for their professional activities. We urge the Communications Commission to investigate the Internet disruption in Namokhvani and provide us with information regarding currently existing indicators”, - is noted in the statement of the coalition. Read more…  Source: The website of the Coalition on a social network

Tbilisi. On March 17, 19 and 26, 2021, the Public Defender’s Office, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, held meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor’s Office and Lawyers’ Association on issues relating to the administration of justice on sexual violence against women. “Recommendations and key findings of the Administration of Justice on Sexual Violence against Women in Georgia, a report drawn up by the Public Defender’s Office (with the assistance of the Council of Europe) were introduced to the prosecutors, investigators and lawyers. Participants talked about their practices and challenges relating to the investigation of cases of sexual abuse, criminal prosecution and consideration of such cases in the court”. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition reacts to the amendments to the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts submitted by Anri Okhanashvili, Chairman of the Legal Issues Committee. The organization believes that the proposed fragmented changes are completely detached from the current reality. “The Coalition believes that an agreement on key issues of judicial reform should be reached within the framework of the current mediation process. In particular, the government and the opposition should first agree on a consensus-oriented rule for the composition of the High Council of Justice and the Supreme Court, which will contribute to the elimination of the rule of the Clan and weaken the government's improper influences over the system”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. A survey of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) on “Transparency of the judiciary in Georgia” highlights key shortcomings existing in terms of proactive transparency of the judiciary. “Failure to execute a decision of the Constitutional Court in regard to accessibility to court acts remains to be a serious challenge. Incomplete disclosure of public information by courts and the High Council of Justice is problematic. There should also be mentioned gaps in maintenance of statistics in the common court system and its publication. Based on identification of existing gaps and challenges, the survey includes specific recommendations that are essential to be considered so as to improve transparency and openness of the judiciary”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Shida Kartli. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has won the employment-related dispute of one more social worker. "According to the March 19 decision of the Khashuri District Court, the LEPL “Agency for State Care and Assistance for the (Statutory) Victims of Human trafficking” must reinstate the social worker, fired in 2019, as well as compensate the loss. Besides, as the court ruled, the restitution and compensation process should begin immediately, which judgement is especially important and rare in employment-related law cases. This is already the sixth successfully completed dispute out of those eight cases that EMC works on. As for the remaining two disputes, trials still take place and public will be informed about the news related to these cases during legal proceedings”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to an interview broadcasted through the air if the TV Company “Mtavari” and notes that the continued practice of unlawful surveillance causes an irreparable damage to human rights and the democratic order. “Use of information, obtained in this way, for political purposes is encouraged by inefficiency of the Government and absence of political will to investigate facts of violation of privacy. The practice of unlawful surveillance and gross violation of privacy is directly linked to both failure of legislative and institutional reforms in this field and delayed, as well as ineffective response of law enforcement agencies to specific cases”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Kvemo Kartli. Civil society organizations respond to developments that took place on March 21 in Marneuli, where activists of the “Movement for Georgia”, along with local population, demonstratively violated the curfew at 21:00.  “We have repeatedly stated that the Government tries to restrict freedom of expression unconstitutionally, justifying it with protection of public health. This time it is especially alarming that we are dealing with the threat of restriction of physical freedom of citizens and their criminal liability. It is noteworthy that the activists decided to hold the rally after the authorities did not heed a request of ethnic Azerbaijani citizens and did not lift the restriction of movement for the overnight of Nowruz Bayram. We consider that this decision is inconsistent and, moreover, discriminatory against ethnic minorities. The Government could make an exception in this case, especially on the background of intended easing of regulations for a football match on March 28, 2021, in fact, restrictions, for instance, were also lifted on the night of January 1”, - is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: www.gdi.ge

Tbilisi. On March 21, 2021, a TV story was aired on Mtavari Channel about alleged secret recordings of private life, including those showing the life of politician Ana Dolidze. “The victims of the release of secret recordings of private life or the threats relating to the release of such recordings are mainly female politicians in Georgia. This practice is used as a systemic tool of violence against women involved in public and political processes, in order to oppress and silence them. The Public Defender condemns the practice of illegal interference with the private life by the State, expresses solidarity with all victims and calls on the State to take convincing steps”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 18, 2020, police officers stopped a child in Tbilisi and demanded to present an identity document, which the juvenile did not have. Police officers decided to take a photo of him, while the juvenile refused it and, therefore, policemen decided to detain the juvenile, however, people did not allow them to do so. During the attempt of detention the child received bodily injuries. On October 29, 2020, PHR applied to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and demanded a copy of an administrative case file related to the juvenile, but the Ministry delayed the process. In order to protect interests of the child, #PHR applied to the State Inspector’s Service. The State Inspector reviewed the case and concluded that materials were handed within an unreasonable timeframe. According to the conclusion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs performed its duties improperly. In particular, it provided the applicant with the documentation in an unreasonable timeframe, improper manner and incompletely. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia was declared an offender and fined GEL100 as an administrative penalty. Partnership for Human Rights continues to defend interests of the child. Read more… Source: phr.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association responds to a story broadcasted through the program “Post Factum” on the TV Company “Mtavari”. “A respondent Ivane Gulashvili states that he was an employee of the state security and, on the order of high-ranking officials, used to install recording devices for covert surveillance in residential houses of public figures or various technical equipment. GYLA condemns unlawful encroachment on private life. Extends its support to Ana Dolidze and all victims of unlawful covert surveillance. At the same time, we note that in Georgia, there is painful experience of publicizing personal life footage, obtained through covert surveillance in the recent past, and it entails consequences. This fact requires timely, impartial and effective investigation to be carried out by relevant state agencies”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Women’s Movement responds to information broadcasted through the air of TV Company Mtavari on March 21 by Ivane Gulashvili, a former employee of the State Security Service, who is currently in custody. “In an interview with a journalist, Ivane Gulashvili talked about possible covert surveillance of Ana Dolidze, a female politician. Sadly, we remember moral terror perpetrated against a number of politically active women and attempts to oust them from public life. We note that similar unlawful practices have developed into systemic violence in the country. Manipulating or disclosing private, including sexual life of a woman is the most brutal method of ousting women from politics, as well as discrediting and marginalizing them. We call on the investigative body to launch an investigation, interrogate all people who may be involved in the unlawful surveillance of Ana Dolidze, and use all available resources to prevent spreading of personal life footage. We express our full solidarity with Ana Dolidze and urge the international community to respond respectively”, - is noted in the statement. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On March 17, “Rights Georgia” presented results of monitoring of activities carried out by an independent inspector and the High Council of Justice during disciplinary legal proceedings. “The study report, prepared as a result of the monitoring, contains a review of current legislation and practice in the field of disciplinary responsibility of judges, analysis of compliance of legislation and practice with international standards, as well as recommendations for elimination of shortcomings in the disciplinary system”. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a concept of a reform of the judicial system developed by non-governmental organizations. “The purpose of the concept is to facilitate institutionalization of the judicial system, its liberation from informal influences, promotion of its internal democratic processes and establishment of highest standards”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The study revealed that there are significant challenges in terms of transparency of the judiciary. In particular:  "The Parliament has not yet adopted necessary legislative amendments for ensuring the accessibility of court decisions, which significantly undermines the rule of law in the country; Incomplete publication of public information by the courts and the High Council of Justice is problematic; There are some challenges related to the production and publication of statistics in the system of common courts, creating difficulties in terms of the accessibility of statistics". Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. “Rights Georgia” considers that the ruling of the Tbilisi City Court on seizure of the electronic data transfer device, delivered (sent) to “TV Pirveli” by a confidential source and mentioned in a Saturday Show of Nodar Meladze, contradicts legislation of Georgia and, respectively, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Civil Society Organizations are reacting to the audio recording broadcast on TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, the alleged participants of which are, the incumbent Prime Minister, the head of the Special State Protection Service, and Bera Ivanishvili. “We call on the Parliament of Georgia to use the tools afforded to it by the Constitution of Georgia and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament and to demand clarifications from the Prime Minister. The disseminated record and the alleged participation of the Prime Minister in it should be the subject of parliamentary discussions. We call on law enforcement agencies to take an appropriate expert and/or other investigative measures to verify the authenticity of the record. To ensure public trust, this process must be conducted in a timely, efficient, and transparent manner. The involvement of independent observers/experts in the process must be ensured. All necessary measures must be taken to increase the credibility of the investigation”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge