Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) presented the third interim report of a pre-election monitoring of the 2020 elections of the Parliament of Georgia. “The report mainly contains a review of the period from August 4 through September 5, 2020, as well as developments that have been initiated before August 4. According to the appraisal of the organization, signs of alleged bribing ofvoters and use of administrative resources during the reporting period remain a major challenge for the electoral environment”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

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Special seminar about protective methods against the new coronavirus was held for the beneficiaries of Daycare Centers for Children and People with Disabilities established at the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). “The seminar included the following information: what is the virus; how to protect ourselves from Covid-19; the correct usage of medical masks, show covers and gloves. Through fun activities, with the help of disposable gloves, daycare center specialists taught the rules of hand hygiene, which will help them to gain knowledge and abilities regarding personal hygiene”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia is responding to the rallies held against the Pankisi Community Radio and its founder in the village of Duisi on August 29 and September 5, 2020. “The Public Defender emphasizes the important role of the media in covering the processes ongoing in the gorge and calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to launch an investigation into the above-mentioned facts in a timely manner, as well as to assess the risks of obstruction of professionaljournalistic activity of Gela Mtivlishvili and other employees of the Pankisi Radio and to take appropriate measures to ensure a safe working environment for them”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary believes that the proposed draft amendments to the Law of Georgia on Common Courts are fragmented and do not address the challenges and problems that are characteristic not only to the process of selection of the Supreme Court judges but also to the judiciary, in general. The bill is concerned with the duty of the High Council of Justice to make reasoned decisions regarding Supreme Court judicial candidates, as well as with candidates’ ability to appeal these decisions. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI) responds to a law,adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on September 2, 2020, according to which, from January 1, 2021, the Border Police will restrictcitizens of Georgia to depart from the territory of Georgia with the intention to enterthe Schengen zone if they do not meet criteria stipulated by the law. The organization considers that the adopted law is unconstitutional and contradicts international standards. Read more… Source: gdi.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies publishes material of Mamuka Komakhia, ananalyst: Review of Russian policy in post-Soviet space, edition 15. “Russia considers post-Soviet space to be its sphere of influence and sees enhancement of Western positions in the region as a threat to its national interests. The purpose of our review is to provide readers with information regarding important developments related to Russian policy in post-Soviet space. The review is published once every two weeks and tends to be useful for everyone, decision makers, public servants, media representatives or others who are interested in ongoing processes in post-Soviet countries”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:www.gfsis.org

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post of Tamar Chkhartishvili: How aredrying trees, diseases and domestic violence linked to 5G? “In the August 31-September 6 edition of the “Asaval-Dasavali” newspaper, there was published an interview with Lali Moroshkina, who talked about 5G antennas. According to Moroshkina, the coniferous trees dry out as a result of a radiation and beginning of the drying process is linked with activation of 5G antennas in a test mode. Besides, Moroshkina links headaches, high blood pressure, mental disorders and even domestic violenceto 5G. The statement of Lali Moroshkina in regard to connection between 5G antennas and various diseases, domestic violence and drying trees is an anecdotal evidence and is not supported by scientific studies or arguments. Besides, information,as if Belgium, France and Germany have rejected 5G technology, is false”, - is stated in the blog post. Read more… Source:www.mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. On September 3, 2020, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria met with Prosecutor General Irakli Shotadze. The parties talked about high-profile cases and plans for cooperation. “The main focus of Public Defender’s questions was the investigation into the death of young programmer Tamar Bachaliashvili. Nino Lomjaria inquired about the versions of the investigation relating to the cause of the programmer’s death”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

On September 3, Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) held an online intellectual game – What? Where? When? within the framework of EU-funded Project – Civil Society Sustainable Initiative (CSSIGE) on the topics of volunteering and civic activism. "The game was broadcasted LIVE via the FACEBOOK page of Timerepublik Georgia – the first time bank in Georgia. The intellectual game aims to raise awareness of volunteering and civic activism among the public, especially among Georgian youth. In total, 10 teams represented from 10 regions of Georgia took part in the game". ”Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” was developed and is implemented by the consortium lead by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in a social network

Tbilisi. Media Checker publishes material of Magda Gugulashvili: Recommendations for coronavirus coverage. “Spread of the new coronavirus has posed a number of challenges to the media in terms of adhering to professional standards. Besides universally recognized principles of ethical journalism, such as accuracy, fairness and impartiality, international guidelines call on the media to exercise caution when using terminology, selecting photo/video material, publishing statistical data, to think about necessity of identifying infected respondents and disclosing personal information,to avoid encouragement of a racist, discriminatory discussion and hate speech, to refrain from stigmatizing people”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.mediachecker.ge

Tbilisi. Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) will act as a local observation organization during the parliamentary election of October 31, 2020. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office has resumed electronic course “For the prevention of sexual harassment”. The course aims to raise awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace and public space. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes analytical material: Cyber-attack on the Ministry of Health and a Russian trace. “It can be said that cyber-threats coming from the Russian Federation are somewhat predictable. Besides, although the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia does not name a specific country, from where the cyber-attack on the Ministry of Health of Georgia was carried out, on the basis of the same report it is possible to assume that the above was in the interest of Russia, because as previous developments also show, it has been long time that Russia considers existence and successful operation of an American laboratory at its border a threat, which is violation of Paragraph 14 of a military doctrine of Russia”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Mentoring for Women’s Empowerment – UN Women hosted a workshop with the aim to increase understanding of HR professionals from the Women’s Empowerment Principles signatory companies on how to establish workplace mentoring programmes. Workshop participants gained practical skills on how to develop and roll out mentoring programmes for women’s empowerment in the future. Read more… Source: The organization’s page in the social network

Tbilisi. The “No to Phobia!” civil platform expresses its concern in regard to the xenophobic/ Turkophobic rhetoric of the political party “Alliance of Patriots” and considers that activities of the party contain signs of stirring up ethnic tensions, which is prohibited under Paragraph 3 of Article 23 of the Constitution of Georgia. “Political parties enjoy freedom of expression and hence they have the right to express their views publicly, even if it is incorrect and misleading, however, at the same time, they have a high responsibility to not use a political platform for causing misunderstanding among various groups of the society and creating new hotbeds of conflict. The latter is especially dangerous in the reality of Georgia”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Center prepared the interim reports of the court proceedings of the cases with alleged political motives, and the protest assemblies. “During the court monitoring it was identified that on the cases under the monitoring of HRC the right to a fair trial was not ensured by the system of criminal justice of Georgia. Despite the fact that the deficiencies identified during the court hearings do not expressly violate the right to fair trial per se, the combination of some individual cases, particular legislative defects and generally problematic court practice, further, the existence of selective justice and alleged political motives threatens the protection of the right to a fair trial in accordance with international standards and human right laws”. Read more… Source: www.humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. With USAID/PROLoG's support, Georgian Trade Unions Confederation prepared e-bulletin and banners about COVID-19 influence on employment in the framework of the project "Legal Aid for Protection of Workers Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic." Read the bulletin... Source: The organization’s page in a Social network

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Tbilisi. “Media Advocacy Coalition” member organizations demand an immediate response ofthe Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to the threat of a raid on “Pankisi Radio”. “On September 1, there was released a video demonstrating how Pankisi Community Radio was threatened to expect a raid on its studio while Gela Mtivlishvili, a journalist and its founder, was demanded to discontinue his professional activities in the Pankisi Gorge”. Read more… Source:www.qartia.ge

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post of Mariam Topchishvili: “Obiektivi” spreads Bill Gates video fabrication and disinformation regarding vaccination. “On August 26, 2020, NodarGogebashvili, an immunologist guesting the “Night Studio” air of the TV Company “Obiektivi”, spoke about the coronavirus vaccine and stated that an Oxford vaccine, created with the funding of Bill Gates, was genetically modified, which could alter human genetics. In the program, the TV Company “Obiektivi” also aired a video on Bill Gates in Georgian, in which Gates talks about the necessary vaccination of people. Assertions related to COVID-19 and vaccination, voiced on the air of “Obiektivi”, are untrue and disinformation. Bill Gates video, broadcasted on the air, is a video fabrication”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:www.mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to an unfortunate incident that occurred at a mine in Shukruti, Chiatura, and resulted in death of a 46-year-old miner. EMC calls on the state to ensure safe work. “The accident took place on August 24 of the current yearat a VakeTkeOtkhi (plain forest four) mine. According to reports, a tractor ran over the miner during the working process. Working conditions of people employed atChiatura mines remain tough for years. Along with low remuneration, labor rights of those employed are systematically violated. Employees risk their life and health on a daily basis due to non-compliance with labor safety rules”. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge