Tbilisi. On December 26, ARISC Georgia Branch invites you to a Reading Group in Tbilisi. Reading: Tales of the Caucasus: The Ball of Snow (I-III chapters) by Alexandre Dumas. This event is free and open to the public. The reading and discussion language is English. Reading available online Address: 3/5 Kakutsa Cholokashvili st., Ilia State University, room F415 For the full text… Source: arisc.org

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The East-West Management Institute has presented a new civil society development project on December 24 in the Akhaltsikhe Civic Engagement Center, funded by the US Agency for International Development. The project aims to improve citizen participation in the CSOs and their financial sustainability, and support Civic Engagement Centers by establishing them as independent organizations, so that they are able to continue functioning as politically neutral places for public discussions

Tbilisi. "Transparency International – Georgia” has studied the procurements of the Ministry of Infrastructure carried out in 2013-2014 for the performance of construction works. The data are based on an online platform of state procurements and TI Georgia’s tender monitoring web page. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. A new Property Law Textbook was publicly presented with support of the Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project (JILEP) of the East-West Management Institute. The textbook was developed for the law faculty students of the future generation. EWMI-JILEP has selected the Tbilisi State University professor Tamar Shotadze as the author of the book, which was written by taking into account the contemporary teaching methodology. The textbook includes not only law theory, but advices and exercises on the solution of real legal problems. The textbook. Source: www.ewmi-jilep.org

Tbilisi. CSO "Green Alternative” has released a statement concerning the ratification of the Georgia-EU Association Agreement by the EU Parliament and its resolution on Georgia, which, the organization believes focuses on important issues including the energy sector and environmental protection. Green Alternative welcomes and shares the EU Parliament’s demand and urges the Government of Georgia, the Parliament, business sector and the society to provide comprehensive support and take efficient steps for fulfilling obligations taken under the Association Agreement. For the full text. Source: greenalt.org

Tbilisi. The School of Liberalism has posted a video of public opinion poll in the social network. The Center’s students were interested in the population’s opinion on developments around an ancient gold mine of Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani. Source: web page of LibCenter in the social network.

Tbilisi. The organization’s lawyer Ana Natsvlishvili was elected as the Chairwoman of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, while her Deputy will be Natia Katsitadze, who is the Head of the Justice Department at the Public Defender’s administration. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender addressed the Minister of Internal Affairs "to assume personal control over the issue of application of legal mechanisms by persons authorized to respond to cases of domestic violence in order to ensure protection of victims and prevention of repeat of domestic violence cases. He also called for authorized persons to be once again reminded of sensitivity of the issue so that every measure is taken to stop alarming tendency of domestic violence in Georgia". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Concept of the Tbilisi City Hall web portal was presented on December 23 in the "Courtyard Marriott" Hotel, which aims to replace Tbilisi City Hall's current web page with a more transparent and open web portal. It will provide to citizens all necessary information, and the opportunity to contact the Mayor, ask questions to agencies of their interest, receive answers, evaluate local administrations' work and be involved in the decision-making process. Presentation and examination of the web portal concept were organized as part of the project "Introducing New Standards of Transparency and Accountability in the Tbilisi City Hall", implemented by the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information, with support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation and in partnership with the Tbilisi City Hall. For the full text. Source: web page of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has published Mikheil Kukava's blog post: "2015 Tbilisi Budget: Novelties and Problems". "On December 19 the Tbilisi City Council has approved the capital's budget for 2015. Compared to the original version of the budget, the final text includes number of amendments, and especially in the area of healthcare and social welfare. Compared to 2014, the capital's revenues in 2015 will increase by 47.59 million GEL (7.2 percent), while expenses – by 38.15 million GEL (5.78 percent)", the organization's web page states. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Reforms Association has released a new publication: "Changes to the Migration Policy and Subsequent Challenges". The publication focuses on the education sector, tourism, foreign nationals residing in Georgia, direct foreign investments and foreign nationals, and especially on unjustified decisions refusing to grant them relevant documents. The publication. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Ombudsmen Addresses Ministry of Economy with Recommendation. "On January 27th, 2014 IDFI referred to the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development with a FOI request. Various data was requested. ...Unfortunately the Ministry failed to provide us with complete information. ...Dwelling form the fact, that the Ministry of Economy failed to duly exercise its obligation, the institute referred to the Ombudsmen, informing him on the fact of violating the right of IDFI, enshrined by article 41 of the Constitution. The Ombudsmen was asked to prepare recommendation insuring that the right of the institute on the access to information would be well respected.   After receiving the application and getting acquainted with the case recommendation was prepared by the Ombudsmen". For the full text Source: idfi.ge  

Tbilisi. On December 19, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation has presented the new project – Partnership for Transparent Budget: Civil Monitoring of State Expenses in Georgia. This project aims to improve transparency of the country's budget and increase accountability on the spending of state funds. The Eurasia Partnership Foundation has started implementing the EU-funded project on 1 November 2014. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Independent Association of Georgian Journalists has commented on recent dismissals of staff from the Georgian TV companies "Maestro" and "TV3". The organization expresses readiness to "render legal assistance to colleagues and if needed, to play a mediator's role between the employers and employees". For the full text. Source: media.ge

Kakheti. The Kakheti Bureau of the NATO and EU Information Center has presented to public its annual activity report. The Information Center has organized up to 50 various meetings and events over the period of 9 months. According to the Head of the Kakheti Bureau, Erekle Rosebishvili, the Kakheti Bureau of the NATO and EU Information Center has actively cooperated with the local authorities, international organizations and CSOs, civic clubs, educational institutions and media outlets. Further, the Information Center will continue informing the population about NATO and the EU.

Tbilisi. On December 20, "Libcenter" has hosted philosopher Levan Ghambashidze's public lecture: "Social Invisibility and Citizenship". The Center provides a video recording of the public lecture for those who were unable to attend. The lecture: "Social Invisibility and Citizenship".         Source: the Center's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center has released Sopo Verdzeuli's blog post - "Political neutrality of the Prosecutor's Office". "In the current system the Prosecutor's Office is an organic part of the Government and thus is vulnerable to political impacts. Today, the Government is both the author and implementing party of the criminal justice policy, owing to which special power accumulates within the Government", the blog post states. For the full text. Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. A general assembly of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics was held on December 21. At the general assembly three new members of the Ethics Council were elected: Tazo Kupreishvili (TV company "Rustavi 2"). Maia Metskhvarishvili ("Netgazeti") and Jaba Ananidze ("TV channel 25"). Pursuant to the Charter of the Charter's Council, the following members have left the Charter Council: Natia Kuprashvili, former Chair of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics and two members of the Charter Council – Natia Rokva and Davit Mchedlidze, due to expiration of their three-year membership to the Council. The Council member Nino Zuriashvili was elected as the Chair of the Charter's Council. For the full text Source: 17maisi.org

Tbilisi. The EU Delegation to Georgia and the EU Observer Mission have announced on December 19 the winners of the "EU Prize in Journalism 2014". The EU Prize in Journalism – is the initiative of the EU Delegation to Georgia and aims to identify and acknowledge works of Georgian media that share and foster professional journalistic ethics and principles. Full info on the winners Source: netgazeti.ge

Tbilisi. Center "Apkhazeti" has signed two grant agreements with the Ministry of Justice on December 19. The projects focuses on persons at conflict with law and juveniles associated with the crime risk group. Source: web page of Center "Apkhazeti" in the social network.

Adjara. At the initiative of the Civil Society Institute, the 2015 Batumi budget was examined on December 16 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center for the Public Assembly chairs. Representative of the Batumi City Hall's Financial Department has thoroughly explained to this audience the purpose of the budget expenses. Following the presentation of the budget, citizens have expressed their views. As part of their official duties, the Public Assembly chairs have to inform the Assembly members about the budget, while after getting familiar with the document, they have to present problems by territorial units and in case the city budget does not provide for solution of a particular problem, they have to address the Batumi City Council with a recommendation on behalf of the Civil Advisors' Council.

Tbilisi. "This Affects You, They Are Still Listening" campaign held a rally on December 19 on the Rustaveli Avenue. Organizations part of the campaign have "once again expressed position on amendments made to the law on secret surveillance. According to members of "This Affects You", protest rallies will continue and they will challenge the Law adopted on November 30 in the Constitutional Court", says Cida's page in the social network. Source: the page of "Cida" in the social network.