Tbilisi. On June 3-4, IDFI and The University of Georgia (UG) will hold the conference: “The World Finally Sees It”: Hybrid Warfare, Disinformation and History in CEE. The conference will engage the leading experts in the field with regional expertise and the keynote speaker. Registration is required. Please register here... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Samagrelo. Transparency International Georgia’s Committees of Concerned Citizens and Samegrelo branch have registered a petition demanding the construction of roads and lanes on David Jikia Street and the construction of drainage channels on Borjomi Street in Zugdidi.  “The pavement on these streets is wholly damaged, and due to the lack of a drainage system, the road and yards are flooded in rainy weather. We call on the Zugdidi Municipality Sakrebulo to support our petition, and the Zugdidi City Hall to find all the necessary resources to meet the demands of Davit Jikia and Borjomi Street citizens within a reasonable time”. Read more…  Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Kremlin continues to build a national narrative about the great victory of 77 years and the defeat of Nazism. IDFI's blogpost will analyze how attitudes towards May 9 have changed over the years, what forms the main parade dedicated to this day took in the modern Russian Federation, and which symbols or narratives dominated this day.  Read more…  Source: idfi.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. Easter Exhibition/Sale was held in Saguramo Day Care Center “IALONI.” “All Day Care Centers, administered by Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) were involved in Easter preparations. Teachers, along with service users, made various Easter symbols and painted the eggs”. Find out more… Source: edec.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI sent humanitarian aid to Eastern Ukraine. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Civil Society Organizations and professional circles express concerns about the upcoming massive construction process on Elbakidze uphill, near to Mikheil Javakhishvili house, on Sakanela street. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Today marks 83 years since the birth of Zviad Gamsakhurdia and 31 years since the referendum on the restoration of state independence. The March 31 referendum was not held in Tskhinvali, Kornisi (Znauri) and Java districts, but the total number of voters in Georgia included the number of voters from this region. In Tskhinvali district, a referendum was held on the territory of seven rural councils, where the total number of voters was 11,376. 10,180 voters (99.68%) answered positively to the referendum question. IDFI offers documents preserved in Russia, at the Yeltsin Center on this and other interesting issues about Zviad Gamsakhurdia's presidency. Read more… Source: jobs.ge

Imereti. Some 40 problems/needs were identified by Committees of Concerned Citizens in four municipalities of the Imereti Region (Tkibuli, Kutaisi, Khoni and Tskaltubo) and advocated to local authorities. As in previous years, the emphasis was placed on infrastructure improvements: rehabilitation of internal village roads and water supply systems, liquidation of chaotic garbage dumps, upgrade of municipal transport system, installation of outdoor lighting, etc. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the European Union for years the pro-Kremlin disinformation surrounded aggression with lies. See the timeline of Russian aggression against Ukraine by EU vs Disinformation… See the timeline infographic here… Source: www.eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. Center for Social Sciences publishes the recording of the CSS online panel discussion on “Russia-Ukraine War: implications for Georgia and the EaP countries”. Learn more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections (ISFED) publishes the blogpost: TOP 10 Accusations Against Lugar Lab. “For years, the laboratory has been accused of making biological weapons, spreading viruses and performing health-damaging trials. Alongside with false accusations, Lugar laboratory was linked to intelligence services of the USA. Once again, those narratives have become actual when Russia invaded Ukraine. This time, Ukraine has become the main target of propaganda and is accused of working on a dangerous infection pathogens in laboratories. Although, propagandists have not forgotten about Georgia and Lugar laboratory, which was defined as the danger by Russia”. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information publishes the article: Russian Information Warfare against the Lugar Laboratory. “Besides the above-mentioned disinformation, the accusations against the Lugar Laboratory periodically appeared in Russian and pro-Russian media. It has been accused of spreading the Swine flu, creation of biological weapon used in Syria, production of a biological weapon by the US, etc. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the laboratory once again became a target of Russian disinformation and it was blamed for spreading the virus. For effective dealing with such challenges, it is essential to enhance the collaboration between decision-makers, civil sector and cybersecurity specialists in order to ensure the implementation of strategy for countering Russian disinformation and cyber threats”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA believes that the package of powers of the President of Georgia stems from her status, according to which she is the head of state, the guarantor of the country's unity and national independence. According to the organization Georgian Dream statement serves to punish Salome Zurabishvili for her Positioning, which damages the institution of the President. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. According to the assessment of the IDFI the president has not violated the constitution of Georgia. “The President’s competency in foreign policy is limited and mostly is implemented with the Consent of the Government of Georgia. But this does not mean that the President’s each action or inaction that affects foreign policy needs Government’s permission. Without government’s consent, the President is not allowed to conclude international treaties or to vote in international organizations, however as the head of the state, the President is not prohibited from expressing her views on foreign policy inside or outside the country, especially during the informal meetings. More precisely, not all steps taken by the President in terms of international cooperation will depend on the will of the Georgian Government and it cannot be considered as implementation of the foreign policy”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The signatory organizations call on the Georgian authorities to instigate a comprehensive policy to ensure organized reception of refugees from Ukraine and bona fide support of refugees already in Georgia. “The trend of Ukrainian refugees entering Georgia may also be discerned. According to our observations, after the start of the war, asylum seekers in Georgia are mainly those Ukrainians who have relatives, family, or other strong ties with Georgia. Despite this reality, it is clear that the Georgian authorities have not taken proactive steps to organize the evacuation of refugees from Ukraine and to provide them with proper and real support in Georgia. Moreover, thousands of Ukrainian tourists, who were unable to return to Ukraine due to the war that started on February 24, 2022, remain in Georgia, and they also face the need for urgent social support”, is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

The UNCAC Coalition is a global network of anti-corruption organisations committed to human rights and democracy. “We condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a gross violation of international law and human rights. It is an affront to the United Nations Charter principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other States, which are principles reiterated in the UN Convention against Corruption. In that vein, we call on all countries, and in particular those that host major financial centres, to take swift and concrete steps to stem the flow of stolen money and to trace and freeze illicitly-acquired assets. This should include establishing central public beneficial ownership and company registers, as well as transparency measures, especially in sectors at risk of capture by corrupt interests”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. A number of young volunteers, just like Mariam and her friends, were united by the desire to help the Ukrainian people. “We wanted to make some contribution to helping the Ukrainian people. We gained information about the necessary items and learned that the most critical need for the people there now was first aid medicines. We started raising money to buy first aid medicines. In a few days we raised 1400 GEL and we sent it to Ukraine”. Activity is being implemented within the framework of the project “Civil Society Initiative,” with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Red Cross Georgia Society thanks to the company "Onetoeight” and "moodo.store" for the support. “They handed over 65 hoodies free of charge, which will be donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross for the affected people in Ukraine”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. To help the affected people in Ukraine, the company "Bricorama" donated the following equipment to the Georgian Red Cross: generators, tents, water-fuel tanks, and electric adapters. The humanitarian aid will be sent to the "Ukrainian Red Cross." The Georgian Red Cross Society would like to thank the company Bricorama for its support. Georgian Red Cross volunteers are actively involved in the process of sending the cargo. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On March 6, USAID/Georgia's Beneficial Entrepreneurs Exhibition-Sale was held in Dedaena Park. The event dedicated to International Women's Day was attended by 100 women entrepreneurs from Tbilisi and various regions. A Red Cross donation box was placed at the event and volunteers had the opportunity to participate to help the Ukrainian people. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to the information of the Taso Foundation first joint parcel for Ukrainian mothers and their babies has already been loaded. “During the three days since the start of the campaign, GEL 9491.15 was collected on the fund's donation account. Taso Foundation would like to thank each and every person involved in the campaign in support of Ukrainian mothers and their babies. Transfers are made to the donation account: GE29TB0798936080100003 Recipient: Taso Foundation In the purpose field, please indicate: Donation for Ukrainian mothers”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Today, Ambassador Degnan and the Embassy team donated blood to help save the lives in Ukraine. “Because of the high number of volunteers the blood bank couldn't accommodate everyone so we are working on arranging for another blood drive very soon”. Read more… Source: The Embassy’s page on the social network