Tbilisi. According to information of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), in 2019 (January-July) the number of crimes has increased by 17.23%.  “In 2019, there has also been observed a negative trend in terms of solving crimes, the indicator of which has deteriorated by approximately 4% in comparison with 2018. Respectively, even in the circumstances of equal methodology and accountability, the number of crimes continues to increase, while the indicators of solving them – to decrease”, - is stated on the website of the organization.  Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) appraises a government program presented by the new Prime Minister of Georgia to the parliament of the country. “The text of the program, among others, does not respond to the deep crisis revealed in the country within recent months that is connected with democratic functioning of state institutions and the political system. In these circumstances, the government program is more technical in its meaning and cannot carry the real essence of rational political review and parliamentary control in this process”, - is stated in the appraisal.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations call on members of parliament to not support the candidacy of Giorgi Gakharia.  “We consider that the parliament has to refrain from appointing Gakharia to the position of a head of highest body of executive government at least until the nature and extent of responsibility of the minister in regard to the violent dissolution of the June 20-21 rally is clearly revealed”, - is noted in the joint statement.  Read more… Source: gyla.ge

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

Tbilisi. Georgian foundation for Strategic and International Studies publishes a blog post: Key messages of Vladimir Putin from an interview given to the Financial Times. “Emphasizing traditional values as a counterweight to liberalism has been especially outlined in the Russian political agenda for the last several years. Besides, it should be taken into consideration that this particular direction of the Russian propaganda is mostly designed for post-Soviet countries. On this background it is not accidental that the issue of protection of traditional values is becoming increasingly relevant to us, which fact is proved by activation of certain groups in connection with this subject during last period of time”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.gfsis.org

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) considers that reorganization of the Georgian National Book Center and Writers’ House was unsubstantiated and hasty. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations addresses participants of the Batumi Conference with a special statement.  “Today we are the target of aggressive rhetoric and economic sanctions of the government of Russia and President Putin. Besides, President Putin personally falsifies the history of Georgia. By distorting the facts, creating false narrative he attempts to form a traumatic memory, which will disable peace building and confidence restoring processes in the region”, - is stated in the address, - “Unfortunately, our government is unable to deal with this rhetoric. Furthermore, with their confusion and inactivity its representatives sow panic in our country and try to establish a perception that without close economic ties with Russia our country will not survive. In this circumstance it is important that imperialist rhetoric of Putin receives a strict response also from you! Your support is substantial for each citizen of Georgia!”  Read more…  Source: https://www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations call on the Parliament of Georgia to timely review the issue of termination of authority of Zaza Kharebava, a member of the High Council of Justice. "The High Council of Justice of Georgia starts the process of selection of judges of the Supreme Court. Today, on June 7, there will be held a sitting to register applicants of the competition as candidates, which sitting will be followed by several stages of secret ballots at the Council. In this circumstance it is crucially important to have the Parliament of Georgia review, within the shortest period of time, the issue of lawfulness of election of Zaza Kharebava, a non-judge member of the High Council of Justice, to the Council and termination of his authority. On May 14, 2019, the "Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary” applied to the Parliament of Georgia demanding to examine the issue of lawfulness of election of Zaza Kharebava, a non-judge member of the High Council of Justice. According to the statement of the Coalition, there were violated requirements of law in the process of election of Zaza Kharebava as far as his candidacy was presented to the Parliament by an unauthorized subject”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:https://emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The "Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association” calls on the Parliament of Georgia to not support candidates identified through violation of the Regulation of the Competition Commission for Selecting State Inspector. "On June 1, 2019, the Competition Commission for Selecting State Inspector presented two candidates for State Inspector - Valeri Lomuashvili and Londa Toloraia to the Prime Minister of Georgia. GYLA considers that while selecting candidates for State Inspector, the Commission breached the rule stipulated by the Regulation”, - is noted in the statement released by GYLA. Respectively, GYLA calls on the Parliament of Georgia to not support any candidate identified through violation of the Regulation of the Competition Commission for Selecting State Inspector. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

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

Tbilisi. ISFED releases a policy document related to Georgia’s Europeanization. ''The EU-Georgia Association Agreement with its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area is an important step towards European integration but not the last one. Even though Georgia has a declared desire to join the European Union (EU), the latter exercises caution when it comes to providing official pre-requisites for accession. This has been especially visible against the background of the existing internal and external challenges faced by the EU. The latest enlargement of the EU took place in 2013, when Croatia joined the union as the twenty-eighth member. Following the Great Britain’s exit, 27 countries will remain in the union and while since 2013 the EU’s enlargement policy has been passive, soon this trend may change'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Today, organizations, taking part in a ''Swim Safe'' campaign, conducted a protest rally on the territory of a water reservoir of Tbilisi – at the so-called waterfall, which is one of the most dangerous places in Georgia. ''Participants of the rally were representatives of the Human Rights Center, Center for Progress, ''Article 42 of the Constitution'' and ''Crystal'' fund, as well as civil activists'', - 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. Following almost a week-long impediment, video-materials placed on the official Facebook page of WISG and links shared from the organization's website are once again accessible. ''However, what happened demonstrated the increasing scale of action of homophobic and extremist groups on the Facebook platform, which on one hand interrupt the work carried out by human rights defenders and LGBTQI activists by mobilizing fake accounts, reporting and hacking pages, and on the other hand, spread purposefully false information before vast audience, containing homophobic, misogynistic, racist or other types of hate speech'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: women.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) is implementing several projects aimed at raising awareness about the Democratic Republic of Georgia and commemorating the 100th anniversary of its creation. One such project involves publishing a memorial album featuring Nikoloz (Karlo) Chkheidze, a prominent politician of the time. The album will include previously unpublished archival and photo materials, with extensive annotations and details about Karlo Chkheidze's biography and work. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Today the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) presented its 2018 report on access to public information in Georgia and awarded 43 top open public institutions. Certificates were given to all public institutions with 100% compliance to IDFI’s freedom of information requests sent in 2018. These include: Civil Service Bureau, National Statistics Office, Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, Land Transport Agency, National Environment Agency, Education Management Information System, National Food Agency, etc. Read more  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. The Public Defender's Office selected members of the Special Preventive Group. This group will work in the direction of monitoring the institutions of persons with disabilities, orphanages, military units, penal institutions, places of detention and restriction of liberty, through open competition, for the purpose of performing the functions of the National Preventive Mechanism. Read more  Source: The organization’s webpage

Representatives of the "Open Society Georgia Foundation”, "Transparency International – Georgia”, "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” and "Atlantic Council” conducted planned meetings in Washington. Within the frames of the four-day visit, there have been held meetings with: George Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State, Michael Kelleher, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and other representatives of the Department; as well as representatives of the offices of Senators - Rob Portman, Ron Johnson and Chris Murphy, Congressman Jerry Connolly and USAID. Besides, members of the delegation also met with representatives of the United States National Democratic Institute (NDI), International Republican Institute (IRI), International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Freedom House, Heritage Foundation and NED. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Campaign Parliament’s Day at University is still on. This time IDFI visited Samktskhe - Javakheti State University. ''MP Irina Pruidze spoke about the structure and the role of the Parliament as well as the achievements of Georgia in parliamentary openness. IDFI’s Programs Director Levan Avalishvili informed the youth about the e-services introduced following the Open Parliament Action Plans and encouraged the students to participate in the ongoing legislative processes'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in a social network

Tbilisi. Choose the country, which is your kids favorite and paint: The chosen country’s map contour or Symbol of the country (National clothe, Culinary masterpiece, Flag and etc.) Terms and Conditions: From all the received paintings 10 of them will be randomly selected and will be handmade into a fluffy toy. On 4 th May, at Rike Park, your kids will receive a present, the exact toy they painted. Read more… Source: EU page in the social network