Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes an interview with Nino Chkhobadze, an environmental defender, Co-Chair of the Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth - Georgia. “The Chernobyl disaster contradicted a narrative about Soviet power or predominance in the field of science, threatened the politics of the Soviet Union. That is why, for a long period of time, they tried in the USSR to hide information about Chernobyl. “Even today, cases of the high level of lead [in the blood] in western Georgia, in our opinion, maybe the result of the Chernobyl disaster”. Read more… Source:idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On April 23, IDFI held a working meeting with the staff of the Supreme Council of Ajara on issues related to the submission and consideration of the petition. “Implementation of written and electronic petition is the 4th commitment envisaged in the 2020-2021 Open Governance Action Plan of the Supreme Council of Ajara.The opportunity for submitting the written petition to the Supreme Council of Ajara shall be in force from May 1, 2021”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center presents an article by Tamta Melashvili: “Beyond emancipation and exploitation: Women at collective farms in Soviet Georgia”. “This article serves as my attempt to develop a rough idea of how women worked and, in rare cases, succeeded to be promoted in collective farms in Georgia in practice, how they maneuvered when promoted within male-dominated authority fields, and what their agency was like. I will try to adjust experience of Izolda beyond dichotomous representation of a woman emancipated in the communist regime or a woman exploited by the same regime (Fidelis, 2010). Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD) publishes another study: “Digital advocacy of the United States of America: Public diplomacy of the pandemic period to strengthen Georgia”. Visit the link to see the full version of the study. "The study examines communication-related issues during a crisis on the example of the coronavirus pandemic. The author of the work is Mariam Khatiashvili. The study has been prepared within the framework of an Alumni Grant Program of the US Embassy in Georgia". Read more… Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. FactCheck releases information regarding a post about the Pfizer vaccine published on a social network. “On February 26, 2021, a Facebook user published a post with an audio recording. The audio recording was accompanied by a Russian inscription - Cрочно !! Всем Услышать !!! (Urgent !! Everyone must listen !!!). There is a woman, speaking in the record, who introduces herself as Yulia Gaponyuk and says that she is a general practitioner. The doctor talks about Pfizer vaccine and human infection after vaccination in Israel. The information spread on the Internet in the form of an audio recording does not correspond to the truth and is a false story”, - is stated by FactCheck. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Adjara. According to information released by Social Justice Center, the issue of transferring part of the beach on the boulevard to a private hotel has been removed from the agenda by the Batumi City Assembly as a result of a protest of population, which fact temporarily, but still stopped the difficult and damaging process of seizure and privatization of public spaces. As Tornike Rizhvadze, Head of the Government of Adjara, explains, the moratorium will apply only to new construction projects and will not be spread on those sites, main permits for which have already been issued. We, hereby, remind you that there are given permits for construction of Riviera and Batumi Ambassador. The organization considers that this explanation calls into question the purpose of the moratorium itself, which, under these circumstances, will not be able to actually protect the historical and cultural value of Batumi. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network Photo: Netgazeti

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) publishes a blog post of Nino Kapanadze: Another negative report of the Venice Commission and ODIHR. “As it turned out, the report of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR is fully in line with opinions and arguments sent by GYLA to the Parliament and the initiator had an objective opportunity to get acquainted with them prior to requesting assistance from the Commission. If they realized them, the ruling power would escape the unpleasant response from the international format, while the country - the label of the one having “bad intentions” in matters of the rule of law and political pluralism”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) publishes a document: Joe Biden, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia. “Time shows the influence of the new administration on Georgia and Ukraine. It can now be said that efforts spent against Russian expansion, fight against corruption, and establishment of democratic institutions retain priority in the agenda of Biden. Democracy and the rule of law are under the question mark in both Ukraine and Georgia”. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD) presents a study – “Transformation of information warfare methods on the background of development of modern communication capabilities”. Visit the link to find the study in full... “Information warfare, “fake news”, disinformation, these are the terms that have taken place in our daily life. Experts and analysts spend their efforts to address challenges of information warfare, however, it is important to take into consideration not only current circumstances but also those from the past”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) publishes a document: “Strategic vision for development of a social security system”. The document contains main provisions that are agreed among authors. In the opinion of the organization, development of an optimal social security model for the country and society should be based on these provisions. Read more... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) interviewed one of the miners employed at the Tkibuli mine in regard to hard working conditions in mines. ”Today, main concern of Tkibuli miners is lack of assurance that they will return safe and healthy back home after they go out. Security is a major challenge. There is not much difference compared to previous periods. No fundamental changes have been made to eliminate causes of numerous tragic accidents. The only thing the new company has come up with is to install gas appliances and evacuate people when the “lava” explodes. Nothing is changed in terms of both coal mining and processing. The problem that leads to so many tragic cases is extraction of coal through a “camera” system”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes an analysis: Importance of a system of petitions for citizen participation: International examples and practice of Georgia. “It is important to keep the minimum margin, defined for collecting petitions, low at the initial stage so as to make sure that a comparatively high level of it does not have reverse effect and develop nihilistic mood within active citizens. Two aspects that have the utmost importance are accountability and transparency of public institutions, which imply proactive access to information on submitted, as well as addressed petitions, openness of the process of revision of successful petitions and substantiation of a final decision. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On March 4, 2021, IDFI presented the study “Challenges of Whistleblowing in Georgia – Legislation and Practice”. The aim of the research is to determine the reason for the low number of cases of whistleblowing in Georgian public institutions, to identify gaps, and to elaborate specific recommendations for their elimination through the analysis of the legislation and study of the practice.  The full study and key findings can be found here... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. #ReturnMySurname is a civic campaign, within the framework of which Azerbaijani activists demand to have Russian ending of their surnames changed to Azerbaijani. “We are people who always carry an ID card with us. It is a document, which demonstrates our state identity on the one hand, however, when looking into our own ID card, it also reminds us about occupation of our country and surnames. This is what often makes us angry, irritates, hearts”. The campaign is organized by a “Salam” platform with the support of EWMI ACCESS. Read more… Source: The website of the “Salam” Platform in a social network

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) publishes a video footage prepared within the framework of the project – “Promoting and Enabling Legal Capacity in Georgia”. “In 2014, the Constitutional Court restored deprived civil rights of hundreds of people with disabilities. They are no longer given the status of incapable and no guardian is appointed to look after them. In independent life, they are now assisted by a supporter of their choice”. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information of the Georgian Institute of Politics a plan to submit a formal application for EU membership by 2024 was announced recently by the ruling Georgian Dream party. "At the invitation of the organization a selection of experts from France, Germany and Sweden have given their responses to the following three questions: Considering current challenges in the EU, what could be the costs and benefits for Georgia’s European ambitions of an initiative to apply for EU membership in 2024? If Georgia does decide to apply for EU membership, would it be wiser to do so alone or together with Ukraine and/or Moldova? What strategy/tactics do you recommend to the government of Georgia (and other EaP countries) to best handle the EU’s scepticism towards the European aspirations of the EU associated countries?" Read more… Source: gip.ge

Tbilisi. On February 25, IDFI and the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia organized the opening of an exhibition in the Maro Makashvili Garden of the third building of the Library. The exhibition was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the occupation. “Exhibition artworks can be viewed online at the following link..., while from March 1, the May 26 Hall at the second building of the National Library may be visited to see them. The purpose of the exhibition is to expose people fighting for freedom and the national spirit, honor those sacrificed for the idea of independence of the country”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations and for any interested person.  Newsletter...

Kvemo Kartli. On February 16, employees of the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) visited Akhali Dioknisi and Dashtapa villages in Marneuli Municipality of Kvemo Kartli to study problems of population and the current situation on the ground. “In both Akhali Dioknisi and Dashtapa population suffer from problems related to disarrangement of internal roads and drainage canals. Besides, absence of kindergartens is also a dilemma”, - is stated on the website of organization.  Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI studied the practice and legislation of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Georgian public sector. The study revealed that the introduction of AI systems in the Georgian public sector is at an early stage of development. Also, there is a lack of normative acts regulating AI systems and documents defining ethical norms. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Due to the information of the CENN - one-third of food produced each year is lost or wasted. “Food Waste is caused by incorrect labeling, insignificant flaws with the packaging, overproduction, spoilage, overbuying, and a lot more! In order to avoid complaints from the consumers and decrease in quality, supermarkets often remove the products from the shelves one or two weeks before its expiry date and goes to landfills. One of the best solutions to this is to donate the food that is still good for consumption, which is a common practice in most developed countries. However, in Georgia, due to strict tax laws, donated food is taxed with profit tax (15%) and VAT (18%)”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. GYLA and EMC assess the imposition of remand detention to Nika Melia critically and believe that this decision shows signs of selective, political justice. The organizations call on political leaders to take constructive steps to bring the country out of the political crisis and to avoid polarizing the society, further radicalizing the situation and shifting it to a violent mode. Read more… Source: gyla.ge