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. Human Rights House Foundation and Human Rights House Tbilisi condemn recent actions by the Georgian authorities to limit freedoms of expression and assembly, linked with the political crisis which has engulfed the country during past months. „These actions include attempts to silence dissenting and critical voices, detention of peaceful protesters and smear campaign launched against the country’s Ombudsperson by the MPs from the ruling party. We call on the Georgian authorities to reverse these recent actions and take immediate steps to protect human rights in line with Georgia’s international obligations“. Read more… Source: humanrightshouse.org

Imereti. On February 23, 2021, the Samtredia District Court, on the basis of a lawsuit submitted by the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), declared dismissal of 3 social workers from the “Social Service Agency” unlawful and ordered the new agency to reinstate them in their jobs as well as to pay full compensation. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. TI Georgia strongly condemns the violent attack against Formula TV journalist Vakho Sanaia. “We call on the authorities to effectively investigate this incident and punish those responsible to the full extent of the law. This incident is the result of the government's aggressive and hateful rhetoric against the critical media, journalists and people who hold different opinions. Accordingly, these actions encourage this kind of violence which endangers freedom of speech and expression. We call on the representatives of the ruling party to realize their role in this process, to stop their aggressive rhetoric towards critical media, to publicly condemn any form of violence against journalists, and to ensure a safe environment for media activities”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.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

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

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...

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Coalition for Independent Living, from January 11, mobile support groups have resumed their work in Adjara, Guria and Samegrelo regions using adapted vehicles to provide free services to people with disabilities. Mobile groups consist of: mobility assistant, nurse, physical and occupational therapists. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers Association releases a statement on the assessment of the events of February 23rd. “Unfortunately, the Georgian government has failed to defuse the current political crisis and de-escalate the ongoing processes through peaceful negotiations. The authorities did not heed the multiple calls. The arrest of the leader of the opposition party through the police forces has aggravated the current situation. It is important that the Georgian government take constructive steps to bring the country out of the political crisis, while also preventing interference with the right of assembly/ demonstration and allowing demonstrators to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. UNDP invites women and girls from Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Imereti and Shida Kartli regions to join training courses in graphic design and web coding. Training is delivered by the UNDP's partner organization GeoLab • ჯეოლაბი.  Deadline for applications: 12 March 2021;  Registrations forms: Graphic design... Coding... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia shares a survey of community organizations operating in Georgia in 2019-2020 years. “The purpose of the survey was to study groups operating in villages or small settlements of Georgia, their working environment and obstacles. Apart from composing results of the survey and accompanying recommendations, there has also been verified the list of operational community organizations. The list will be made public in the spring of 2021”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Survey... Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The United States Embassy is deeply concerned by the government’s decision to detain the head of a major opposition political party at the party’s headquarters this morning.  We regret that the call of the United States and other international partners for restraint and dialogue was ignored. We are dismayed by the polarizing rhetoric from Georgia’s leadership at a time of crisis. Force and aggression are not the solution to resolving Georgia’s political differences. Today, Georgia has moved backward on its path toward becoming a stronger democracy in the Euro-Atlantic family of nations. Read more… Source: The U.S. Embassy’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Public Defender Nino Lomjaria terms the arrest of Nika Melia, the leader of the United National Movement, at the office of the opposition party by the use of force as concerning. The Public Defender had earlier evaluated the relevant court decision, saying that the application of the measure of detention against Nika Melia was neither substantiated nor necessary. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

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. On February 15, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) conducted an online training for civil servants on the use of artificial intelligence systems in the public sector. The training aimed to provide theoretical and practical information to civil servants about international standards of the use of artificial intelligence systems, and present the results and revealed challenges of the analysis on the practice of using such systems in Georgia. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

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

On February 21, 1921, Georgia adopted the first constitution, which at that time represented one of the most progressive documents in the world. It recognized and was based on progressive principles and democratic values. •Equality of citizens before the law •Inviolability of the person •Freedom of belief and expression •Gender equality •The right to assembly and manifestation •Abolition of capital punishment •Other Print edition of the Constitution failed to take place in 1921 due to the occupation in Tbilisi. The first constitution (geo) ...

Tbilisi. With the assistance of Rusudan Mchedlishvili, a lawyer of “Rights Georgia”, an unlawfully dismissed employee of a pharmaceutical company will receive cash compensation in the amount of GEL 10 600. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. Joint statement of Georgian Non-governmental organizations regarding the renewed arrests in Belarus. "Belarusian authorities must immediately cease coordinated attacks on human rights defenders, journalists and NGOs" - the statement reads. Read more… Source: hrht.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. There will be conducted a webinar on: Gender dimensions of disinformation in the field of elections, politics and digital information, organized by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Time: February 24, 2021, at 17:00 Tbilisi time. Please register at the link: Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network