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

Tbilisi. On February 11, 2021, the Constitutional Court took a decision in regard to the constitutionality of restrictions imposed during the pandemic. The Constitutional Court considered arguments of plaintiffs unsubstantiated and did not satisfy their constitutional claims. EMC critically appraises this decision and provides an overview of those main problematic aspects that, in the opinion of the organization, are contrary to the fundamental principles of the Constitution of Georgia. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and Green Alternative submit an appeal to the Tbilisi City Court to defend interests of local population and demand suspension of enforcement of the order of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, based on which a positive environmental decision on the cascade of Namakhvani HPPs was issued. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary expresses its concern in regard to a decision taken by the Tbilisi Court of Appeals against Transparency International Georgia.  Tthe court considered opinions indicated by the organization in the study as defamatory. “We would like to emphasize that in case if this decision remains in force, there will be endangered the freedom of speech and expression as well as fundamental principles of activities of organizations protecting human rights in the country”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. According to Transparency International Georgia the decision by the Tbilisi Court of Appeals which ruled against the organization is unsubstantiated to such a degree that it raises questions with regard to the impartiality of the judiciary and threatens the high standards of the freedom of speech and expression established by the judiciary so far. “We hope that the Supreme Court will make an objective assessment of the decision made by the court of lower instance and that the court of cassation will maintain the high standard of the freedom of speech and expression it has established”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), together with the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, publishes a full version of an (ISFED) survey – “Democracy and human rights during pandemic and state of emergency”, carried out through the financial support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation. Survey... The survey contains a review of a legal framework for the management of epidemics; international experience; the constitutionality of restrictions imposed by the Government of Georgia. Source: gdi.ge https://csogeorgia.org/ge/newsPost/27066

Tbilisi. Civil Society Organizations release the joint statement on Nika Melia’s arrest. “We condemn this decision by the Georgian Government that will further aggravate the current political crisis in the country. We believe that the Georgian authorities could have defused the situation by legal and non-violent means. Regrettably, the authorities did not wait for the consideration of Melia’s appeal in the Court of Appeals and did not demonstrate the will to defuse the difficult situation and conduct the political process in a calm environment. In the current situation, it is important to avert further polarization in society and prevent civil confrontation. We call on the representatives of friendly countries and international organizations to react to these events appropriately. Today, as never before, Georgia needs the support of its Western partners because, if the situation escalates further, the country could lose everything it has achieved since gaining independence”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by “Rights Georgia”, on February 8, 2021, the European Commission started consultations aiming at attaining information on measures taken by EU member states to eliminate gender-based violence against women and domestic violence. “Via conducting meetings the Commission intends to obtain relevant information in order to be able to improve its work on issues related to coordinated prevention and protection against violence. Those willing to participate in consultation have to get registered and filled out an online questionnaire”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network