Samegrelo. According to the Transparency International Georgia, a petition has been officially registered at Zugdidi City Council, advocating for the implementation of the "Municipal Pet Sterilization-Castration Program". The petition has garnered an impressive 710 signatures from concerned citizens. “The idea belongs to Salome Parsvania, a passionate animal lover from Zugdidi, the petition received support from members of our Committee of Concerned Citizens who assisted in its preparation and signature collection. The petition's objective is to establish a pet sterilization-castration program in Zugdidi municipality, commencing from the 2024 budget year. Notably, citizens would have free access to this program for the initial two years”. TI Georgia urges the Zugdidi Municipality Council to diligently consider and endorse this petition within the legally prescribed timeframe. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to the IDFI, employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Goga Razmadze describes discriminatory and humiliating treatment toward him. “Goga Razmadze’s statement is sufficiently concrete and needs effective Response. Some of these facts contain elements of a crime. IDFI supports Goga Razmadze and calls on the Ministry to stop any process that might be aimed at pressuring employees for their expressed opinions”. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. TI Georgia’s legal team successfully represented journalist Tengo Gogotishvili in all three instance courts, resulting in TV Company “Rustavi 2” being ordered to pay Tengo Gogotishvili’s salary and corresponding compensation. Read more… Source: TI Georgia’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Rondeli Foundation continues the series of meetings in the regions on the topic: ”Georgia awaiting EU candidate status: prospects and challenges.” “Foundation fellows Kakha Gogolashvili and Aleks Petriashvili met with the local NGOs and media in Telavi and Kutaisi. The discussion covered the history of the establishment of the EU and its importance, the challenges Georgia faces on its path to European integration, monitoring results of the fulfillment of 12 recommendations set by the European Commission, and the prospects of receiving the candidate status”. Read more… Source: gfsis.org.ge

Tbilisi. TI Georgia’s legal team successfully represented journalist Paata Iakobashvili in all three instance courts, resulting in the TV Company “Rustavi 2” being ordered to pay Paata Iakobashvili’s salary and corresponding compensation. Read more… Source: TI Georgia’s page on the 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...

Tbilisi. According to the TI Georgia, over the past two years, Natia Kukuladze, a member of the National Communications Commission of Georgia, failed to disclose her salary, 5 pieces of real estate and her husband’s business. “After the publication of the above material, Natia Kukuladze stated that the violations were a surprise for her, so she appealed to the Public Service Bureau, which identified a "technical misunderstanding". Her declaration has already been amended. Firstly, we welcome Ms. Kukuladze's prompt reaction and hope that she will continue to fulfill her obligation to fully declare assets in the future”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Ambassador of France, H.E. Sheraz Gasri visited IDFI. “Giorgi Kldiashvili, the organization's Executive Director, and Levan Avalishvili, the Programs Director, introduced IDFI's activities to the Madam Ambassador. During the meeting, they discussed existing challenges to democratic reforms and the agenda for integration with the EU”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia has studied large delayed infrastructure projects in Adjara and their progress. Similarly to the previous study, we have selected those projects whose implementation has started and relevant contracts were also concluded, although the dates of completion are still unclear despite a number of changes to the contracts. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. With the help of Rights Georgia, the Iranian blogger was granted international protection. He has been seeking asylum in Georgia since 2015. “The blogger spoke openly to the media about the protests and movements following the presidential elections in Iran. He published articles on the political and socio-economic structure of Iran and publicly expressed his desire to actively cooperate with America and implement changes in Iran's political system. In 2009, his educational department was closed against his will, and in 2010, he was arrested by the security services on charges of collaborating with anti-Islamic organizations. An Iranian blogger was released from prison in exchange for real estate as a guarantee and left the country, fearing for his life due to his activities”. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. According to the TI Georgia, the organization of the former Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Dimitri Kumsishvili, receives money without a tender from the legal entity of public law (LEPL), which was subordinated to him during his tenure as Minister of Economy. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On July 6, 2023, the training program "Disinformation and Propaganda Studies: History, Theories and Ways of Debunking continues", created within the framework of cooperation between the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the University of Georgia (UG), was completed, and the participants of the training course were awarded certificates. “A total of 24 participants representing various universities, media outlets, civil organizations, and public institutions were involved in the 2022-2023 training program. Throughout the academic year, students were introduced to six courses, which included Principles of Strategy in Cyber Security; Identifying and Researching Disinformation; Disinformation and Society; Collective memory of nations and its role in Georgian politics and international relations; Archives, Facts, and Media, Strategic thinking”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. According to the study conducted by UNICEF on the cost of raising children with disabilities in Georgia, the cost of the required goods and services for the equal participation of children with disabilities is beyond the reach of most families in Georgia. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

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...

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Transparency International Georgia has studied the public procurements won by Megobroba-5 LLC – the company of Martin Gabrielyani, the Director of a municipal NNLE – in the Akhalkalaki Municipality.   “Since the publication of our study, the State Procurement Agency has established more than 20 violations in these procurements and sent the administrative offense report to the Tbilisi City Court.  The Court gave a verbal warning to members of the tendering commission of the Akhalkalaki City Hall”. See the details of the study here… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Parliament of Georgia passed the bill on Personal Data Protection in three readings, initiated back in 2019. The discussion on the draft law resumed in the Parliament of the 10th Convocation in December 2022. The law encompasses a multitude of cutting-edge advancements in line with the best international standards for personal data protection. Its execution will be carried out gradually. See the 8 amendments that the new law on personal data envisage… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the Georgia Young Lawyers Association, 2 years have passed since the events of July 5-6, 2021, however, until now not all the episodes of possible crime actions have been properly investigated. “Nowadays, it is clear that, despite the punishment of certain perpetrators, the agency in charge of criminal proceedings does not have the necessary will to punish the organizer of violence actions, the leader or the persons who publicly incited to violent acts. It is true that the investigation, among others, is going against the organizers of violence, however, it is not all-round, objective and properly effective, due to the focus of the investigation and not bringing charges to specific persons.  GYLA believes that the victims have been artificially limited the access to the materials obtained by the investigation in the respect of organizers, leaders or the persons who publicly incited to the violent acts”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes the document: Politics of Crime Prevention in Georgia. “Crime prevention has a significant role in the life of a society. Its function is the creation of a safe and secure environment for people. Effective crime prevention policy contributes to avoidance of crime and victimization, also development of strong and vibrant communities. The present document studies crime prevention politics in Georgia. The document aims to assess how robust the steps taken by appropriate authorities are for changing the established practices of prevention and for their improvement”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Samegrelo. According to the Transparency International Georgia "Road Plus" LLC and "Building Group 17" LLC, which are connected to Zaza Antia, a friend and classmate of Zugdidi Mayor Mamuka Tsotseria and Deputy State Trustee in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, Davit Kukhaleishvili, are being awarded local procurement contracts. “Since 2018, companies have been awarded tenders amounting to 22,108,948 GEL. Within this sum, Zugdidi City Hall has made purchases worth 12,129,286 GEL”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Good news for Georgia – the EU’s Erasmus+ activities are increasing! From 2024, Georgian organisations will be able to participate in international cooperation projects in Erasmus+ Programme countries in the fields of youth and sport. Keep an eye out for new opportunities here for the Youth... and sport... Source: The EU’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Georgian translation of the European Commission’s Guidelines on tackling #disinformation and promoting digital literacy through education and training, made possible through the EU Delegation efforts, is now available online. Primary and secondary level teachers and educators, as well as other interested persons, can now access the electronic version of the Georgian Guidelines… Read more… English originals can be viewed here… Source: EU’s page on the social network