Tbilisi. The President of Georgia has met with members of the CSO "Coalition for Transparent and Independent Justice" to discuss the criteria for selecting the Supreme Court Chair candidate. The President has heard the opinions of non-governmental sector on the issue. Source: the President's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Eastern Partnership Georgian National Platform has released a statement on terrorist attacks carried out in Paris. "The National Platform shares the grief of the French people, entire civilized world, and the French Jewish community, and expresses sincere compassion and solidarity. We, member organizations of the Georgian National Platform condemn terrorism, which has no justification and which totally contradicts universal human values based on equality, respect of human dignity, and freedom of expression. We urge the Georgian authorities, as well as the EU and Eastern Partnership state governments, to enhance their efforts in fighting against terrorism and protecting democracy. Further, human rights and the rule of law principle must be unwaveringly observed throughout this fight", the statement says. For the full text. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has appealed in the Constitutional Court against storing by the Ministry of Interior of personal data on administrative offences for indefinite period of time. "Storing by the state of an individual's personal data permanently is by itself a breach of human's right to personal life. Further, an offence 20-30 years old and storing of information on it may turn into an obstacle for certain citizens to hold particular offices in the civil service", the organization's page states. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "Society and Banks" has made its 2014 report available to media.At the presentation, Chairman of the organization's Board has reviewed projects and key campaigns implemented during the year. Giorgi Kepuladze has also discussed problems prevailing in the banking-financial sector. The report. Source: sab.ge

Kakheti. As part of the project "State - 3.0: New Wave of Reforms", the Innovations and Development Foundation has held a meeting today in Telavi, attended by the students of the State University and professional educational institution, as well as CSO representatives.The meeting aimed to set up partnership mechanisms through the youth participation, which will focus on innovative solution of concrete problems and facilitate the formation of creative groups. According to the Project Coordinator of Innovations and Development Foundation, Paata Manjgaladze, new and strong reforms are required in response to public challenges, which will provide new opportunities to each member of the society as well as general public by introducing innovative approaches and taking into account the new trends

Tbilisi. In accordance with changes into the Organic Law of Georgia "On public defender” that were introduced on December 26, 2014, the Public Defender of Georgia has first deputy and deputies. Before the change the Public Defender had just one deputy. On January 12, 2015, in accordance with the Organic Law of Georgia the change was also carried out in the statute of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia and Paata Beltadze who had been Deputy Public Defender before was appointed as First Deputy Public Defender. While Natia Katsitadze who served as Head of the Department of Justice in 2013-2014 was appointed as Deputy Public Defender. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy released a statement. "ISFED’s reaction about the problem identified in the process of filling vacant positions by contestants in Khelvachauri Municipality Sakrebulo had a successful outcome. ...Taking into account recommendations of civil sector in the process of local self-government appointments is a positive development. This will ensure transparency and fairness of the process". For the full text  Source: www.isfed.ge

Kakheti. A 3-day Caucasian Trans-Border Youth Forum was held in Telavi as part of the project "Formation of the Trans-Border Youth Platform".The meeting was organized by the Azerbaijani civil union "Memory". The project aims to set up a trans-border youth platform, which will facilitate cooperation of youth CSOs in rural areas of the two countries, speed up their institutional development, and raise their professionalism.The project is implemented in the Sheki-Zaqatala Region and municipalities of Georgia's Kakheti Region.

Tbilisi. ISFED, Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and Transparency International - Georgia have released developed recommendations on the election system. The organizations urge the authorities "to examine regional proportional system, which meets the current challenges the most, as soon as possible". The recommendations: Source: www.isfed.ge

Kvemo Kartli. The Marneuli Youth Center has hosted the final event of the project "Information Campaign on NATO for Youth in the Marneuli Region". The Marneuli Youth Center has organized this project with support of the NATO and EU Information Center and the Romanian Embassy in Georgia. As part of the project, a cycle of trainings was delivered in 7 villages of the Marneuli Municipality, focusing mainly on the role of NATO in ensuring global security and the significance of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration. At the final event, 35 active participants who were selected from all seven villages involved in the project, have participated in an intellectual game on the topic of NATO. Members of a winner team were awarded with special prizes. Source: NATO and EU Information Center.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Akhaltsikhe has joined a global solidarity campaign "Je Suis Charlie", held worldwide over attacks on the French satirical magazine. Regional newspaper "Southern Gate" has planned the rally through social networking. CSOs "Akhaltsikhe Youth Center", "Union of Democrat Meskhetians" and the Youth Club members functioning with the organization, students of the Samtskhe-Javakheti State University and staff members of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Administration and the Press Office of the Akhaltsikhe Municipality Local Administration have condemned together with journalists and expressed solidarity to the French people with banners "Je Suis Charlie Hebdo" and "We Condemn Violence".

Tbilisi. CSO "ISFED" has released an appeal, urging the authorities to start working on amending the election system as soon as possible. The organization believes that changing the current election system is a priority given the next parliamentary elections. In particular, "the system must be introduced that will ensure holding fair elections, proportionally transforming the electorate's will into mandates, reducing lost votes to the minimum, and observing the principle of vote equality", the organization's web page states. For the full text. Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. According to the President's Administration, the former head of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, Kakha Kozhoridze, was appointed as Giorgi Margvelashvili's Advisor on Human Rights and Justice. For the full text Source: the President's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Parliament of Georgia with a proposal regarding a draft law of Georgia on introduction of amendments into "Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia”.  The Public Defender gives a negative assessment to a suggested change into the article 120 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia, according to which in case of emergency situation, conduction of investigation actions such as search and seizure will no longer need a special order from an investigator. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge  

Tbilisi. CSOs have addressed self-regulatory body of TV company "Kavkasia". "Four CSOs have addressed self-regulatory body of TV company "Kavkasia" with a complaint. The complaint of the Civil Integration Fund, Media Development Fund, Tolerance and Diversity Institute and the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center was "triggered by the statements of the host of talk show "Spectrum", Davit Akubardia, made on December 26, which, in the organizations' opinion, are discriminatory and incite hostility towards the Muslim Georgian citizens", says the web site of the Tolerance and Diversity Institute. For the full text Source: tdigeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Justice has commented on selection of the new Supreme Court Chairman. "We urge all parties to the process to carry out the nomination and approval of the Supreme Court Chairman by observing democratic principles. All of this is of crucial importance in terms of efficient continuation and implementation of reforms launched within the judicial system. The Coalition expresses readiness to support the improvement of this process and its transparent administration", the statement says. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "Young Barristers" have released results of monitoring aimed at inspecting the publicity of communication between the ministries and citizens, as well as establishing the volume of citizen communication to public agencies, and analyzing the ministries' responses. To receive information on the issue, the organization has addressed 19 ministries. CSO has received responses from 18 ministries, while only 11 ministries out of these have fully provided requested information. "According to monitoring, 70 422 citizens have approached 11 ministries of the Government with letters, applications or public information requests ...", the organization's web page states. For the full text (geo)... Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Civil Society Institute would like to bring your attention to the amendment to the tax code of Georgia, adopted by the Parliament on December 12, 2014. According to the amendment, point "B2” was added to the article 82.1 by which individual persons will be exempt from 20% profit tax on the financial benefits donated by the legal persons with the status of charitable organization, exclusively for financing the treatment or the medical services. Before amendments, financial benefits donated to the individual persons with extreme need for medical treatment were subject to 20% income tax which significantly impeded the charitable activities.

Tbilisi. The "School of Liberalism" has hosted discussion - "Should market economy be more regulated or freer?". During the discussion, School members have presented arguments for and against more regulation or freedom of a market economy. Following the parties' positions, mentor - economist Roman Gotsiridze - has summarized and analyzed advanced arguments. The discussion (geo)... Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information released a statement on Latest Developments Regarding Illegal Arrest of Giorgi Kldiashvili. "On December 12th, 2014 Giorgi Kldiashvili, Director of IDFI was arrested by the Department of Central Criminal Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia. ...illegal arrest of Giorgi Kldiashvili for two days, (2) launch of criminal rather than administrative prosecution and (3) allusion to civic activism of Giorgi Kldiashvili and his organization, - unambiguously implies that the Ministry of Internal Affairs as well as the Prosecutor’s office of Georgia aimed at unduly influencing and intimidating Giorgi Kldiashvili. This ongoing trend of law enforcement activities can be seen as an attempt to influence the activities of civil society group of which, IDFI is a member of. IDFI will closely follow and report about proceedings related to Giorgi Kldiashvili’s case". For the full text Source: idfi.ge  

Tbilisi. Civil Platform "No to Phobia!” members appeal to Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. "Several days ago, messages containing threats of physical annihilation of members of NGO Identoba, and its former executive director, Irakli Vacharadze, were released in social network in response to the comments Vacharadze made with regard to the Christmas epistle of the Patriarch of Georgia.  Georgian Non-governmental organizations and the Public Defender of Georgia denounced the reaction to Vacharadze’s comments as the act against not only the Identoba, but also against the right to free speech which is guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia. They called on the government of Georgia to ensure the safety of members of Identoba and its former executive director and to conduct investigation into those threats". For the full text Source: gdi.ge  

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics expresses its sorrow over the terrorist act taken place in France and presents condolences and tolerance to relatives and colleagues of those killed, the French Embassy in Georgia and the French people. The Charter of Journalistic Ethics believes that "the fundamental right of speech and expression of both the media and each individual person must be secured in a democratic state. The given terrorist assault is an appalling act directed against the democratic society, the purpose of which is not a nationality or religious affiliation, but fundamentalism". For the full text Source: qartia.org.ge