Tbilisi. CSO "Tiflis Hamkari" has released a recommendatory document "Issues of funding architectural heritage - observation and recommendations". The document was developed as part of the project "Funding of Architectural Heritage" implemented with support of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection. Document Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia released a blog post - "Carriers’ rights continue to be violated under the Minister’s new order”. "It remains unclear under what grounds and reasons did the Finance Minister prolong the cancellation of the order infringing the interests of carriers yet another time. It is impermissible for a public agency to make such conflicting decisions in a very short time and without a proper advance dissemination of the information. Similar actions inhibit the creation of a stable environment and significantly reduce the public tust in government institutions", says the blog post. For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Children and Youth Fund has released a statement in the social network. The Fund is preparing for a new grant competition. At this stage an online grant application is being improved. You, the users, have an opportunity to get involved in the process of simplification of the grant competition. "We would like to ask you to write your comments to us concerning the last year's online application or other procedural issue; or whether you would like to change or add anything in light of the previous grant competition experience," says the Fund's statement. The Fund's page in the social network. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "Tolerance and Diversity Institute" has released a statement. The organization's web page discusses a rally held by the organization on January 8 in front of the Patriarchate. For the full text. Source: tdigeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association released a statement on the Case of Lasha Chkhartishvili’s Administrative Offence. "It should be noted that for the past years, Article 173 of the Administrative Code of Offences was used as a tool to restrict freedom assembly and expression. On the one hand lack of effective procedural tools in the Administrative Code of Offences for exercise of the right to defence and on the other hand violation of the fair trial standards by the court granted pro-forma nature to the trial and turned Article 173 of the Code as a mechanism for punishment of the participants of the peaceful rallies. Chkhartishvili’s case may be treated as continuation of such practice", says the statement. For the full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "Identoba" starts establishing the debate club. The Club aims to study the art of debates and to apply the gained knowledge afterwards. The work of the Club includes as familiarization with theoretical materials, as well as practical exercises. Full information on the Club. Source: identoba.com

Tbilisi. "IREX G-MEDIA" has released a story - "Batumelebi from the New Perspective". The story tells how the studio was developed, how the new programs are prepared in the newspaper "Batumelebi", and what do they learn in the IREX's new media manager trainings. The story was developed by the G-MEDIA Communications Officer Anita Tvauri. The story. Source: irexgmediageo.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released the blog post "Protracted Process of Proactive Publishing of Public Information (Part 2)". For the full text. Source: opendatablog.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The "Frontline Club" has released a video recording of the lecture "How Close is the West". The discussion was organized on January 8 with participation of journalist Salome Asatiani and sociologist Iago Kachkachishvili and moderated by Gogi Gvakharia. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Soviet Past Research Laboratory has released a new collection on the page of the public archive. The collection includes documents preserved in TsialaPipia's family, reflecting the social and political events of 1920s-1930s, the student life and scientific activities of 1950s-1960s, etc. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "Young Greens of Georgia" has released a statement in the social network. "The so-called dogfight was organized in the Krtsanisi District, and the next one is planned on January 25. We, the Young Greens are against the animal use for entertainment and ask the organizers of these games to respect the lives of animals. Further, we ask law-enforcers for assistance, so that they prevent such vandal acts," says the statement. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The School of Liberalism has hosted LashaBughadze's lecture - "Writers and Censorship". The School offers a video recording for those who were unable to attend. Source: the organization's page in the social network

Kvemo Kartli. CSO "SIQA" launches a new season in the club - "Skills for Professional Success". The club aims to assist the young in acquiring the skill of planning their own lives and becoming more confident; in better adapting to environment based on the gained knowledge and experience and increasing their chances of self-realization and employment.About the club. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. "Tiflis Hamkari" (Tbilisi Guild) has released a statement on the current construction in the Vake Park. "The union of guardians of the city "Tiflis Hamkari" joins the group of citizens against the hotel construction in the Vake Park and expresses solidarity to them. ... legislative amendments fit to private interests, ignorance of public interests, and lack of long-term vision on the city's development inflict irreversible damage to our living environment. ... we urge the Tbilisi City Hall to take into account a high public interest and suspend a construction permit in the territory of the Park," says the statement. For the full text (geo) Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Children and Youth Fund has released the 2013 activity brochure. A bilingual document includes interviews and detailed description of activities delivered by the Fund. The brochure (geo) Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. The Citizens' Advisory Council functioning with the Sakrebulo of the self-governing city of Batumi has started upgrading its members. The Citizens' Advisory Council consists of 19 members, two representatives each from the Batumi-based CSOs, business sector and mass media. Consultations will be held by the end of January and the relevant sector representatives will elect two by two members of the Council. The remaining 13 members of the Council are represented by local citizens from all 13 territorial units of Batumi (chairs of "Public Councils"). Members of the Citizens' Advisory Council are elected for the term of 1 year.

Adjara. CSOs operating in Adjara released a joint statement on the Public Broadcaster's announced competition and staff policy in the Adjara Television and Radio. The statement.

Tbilisi. The School of Liberalism has released another edition of "Libtime". Topic of the edition is a "Modern Georgian Theatre". How does the Georgian theatre reflect problems among the society, does it meet contemporary standards and what are the challenges it faces - are the topics discussed by the host together with guests, theatre specialist LashaChkhartishvili and playwright BachoKvirtia. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information released a blog post - "Delay in Proactive Disclosure of Public Information". "On September 1, 2013, the 26th August №219 Decree of the Government of Georgia "about electronic request for and proactive disclosure of public information” entered into force.  ...the decree applies to the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia, the ministries, offices of the state ministers, legal entities of public law and sub-agencies. We studied the official websites of the listed institutions, which revealed that the obligations associated with the decree have not yet been fulfilled by a number of institutions". For the full text Source:opendatablog.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Caucasian House has published an online-diary "Protect Sakdrisi", in which the student union "Green Fist" and CSO "Monument's Friend" demand the suspension of works at the Sakdrisi gold mine located in Bolnisi. Online-Diary Source: web page of the Caucasian House in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Children and Youth Development Foundation, the Social Photography Fund in the Caucasus and Step Forward implement the project "Every Child is Important". The project aims at achieving the improved access to pre-school education sector and raising the education and development standards during the early age. Within the project framework, special focus is made on poor children, children living in rural areas and children with disabilities. A video was developed as part of the project, reflecting the difficulties that children with impaired hearing and speech face. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Video-appeals of public representatives were published on the social network web page of movement "Guerilla Gardening" concerning the planned construction in the Vake Park. Video-appeals of public representatives (geo). Source: the page of Green Alternative in the social network.