Tbilisi. FactCheck (FactCheck.ge), a fact-checking website of Georgia’s Reforms Associates, publishes a blog post: What did Charles Michel actually say when he mentioned one generation? “A lot of social media sites have spread news as if Michel stated in his speech: “One generation is the distance that separates your society from the doors of the European Union”. According to the translation released by the platform, the President of the Council of Europe in reality said: “I believe our Eastern Partnership is the locomotive for transformation, prosperity and growth. It is equally a powerful symbol of openness, mutual confidence and of our cooperation. It has been one generation of independence for you. And in this one generation, the distance between your societies and the EU has shrunk in unprecedented ways. The EU is your most committed partner for greater democracy, for greater stability, for greater prosperity, and above all, for the benefits of the people of your countries”. Read more… Source: factcheck.ge

Tbilisi. Nino Kviria, the head of the primary structural unit of the Healthcare and Social Support Service of the Rustavi Municipality, says that in order to be fired, she was deliberately persecuted and the grounds for her dismissal were artificially created. On July 16, he was fired by order of the mayor. ISFED is defending Nino Kviria’s interests and plans to use legal protection mechanisms to determine her dismissal on political grounds. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Today, July 19, 2021, in the Batumi International Conference, Civil Society organizations and Media representatives address Charles Michel, President of the European Council. Read more... Source: civilin.org

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has published a study about the results of monitoring the accuracy of December 10 reports of public institutions. So-called December 10 reports imply the publication of an annual report on the state of access to information by public institutions. According to the organization, “the monitoring has revealed that there are frequent cases when public institutions reflect in the data of their reports incompatible with requirements of legislation and/or reality. For example, despite the fact that public information requests of IDFI were left unanswered within the reporting period, indicators, provided in December 10 reports that show how completely public information requests were addressed, as well as current statuses, granted to letters that are overdue for months, point out that public institutions perform unconscientious and manipulative data processing. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On July 19, 2021, the Public Defender of Georgia met with the Ambassador of the United States of America to Georgia Kelly Degnan. “Today's visit by the Ambassador was a confirmation and expression of the United States' respect for the Public Defender’s Office. Today we focused on the appointment of Supreme Court judges and the problems we see in this process. I also spoke about the events of July 5-6, stressed the responsibility of the State and law enforcement agencies and noted that, unfortunately, despite a number of evidences and indicators, no one has been prosecuted for these violent actions yet,” - said the Public Defender. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Facebook has officially confirmed to the organization that the Facebook page of Alt-Info has been deleted based on the ISFED report. ISFED contacted Facebook and informed it about hate speech statements and calls for mobilization of violent groups made by Alt-Info on its platform. “According to the decision of the relevant department of Facebook, Alt-Info violated Facebook Terms and Policies”. Read more... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) offers a free service of legal assistance for the 2021 local self-government elections.                                    Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Center for Strategy and Development has obtained rights to official translation of the Chatham House publication “Myths and misconceptions in the debate on Russia”. “The process started in May of 2021 and at this stage the translation of the publication is nearing completion. GCSD will make the Georgian version of the publication available for a wide range of stakeholders, including academia and the media”.                                                             Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) condemns the recent violent attacks on the civil activists, the members of the society and the journalists, as they contradict the organization's values such as: justice, the right to make free choice and equal opportunity. “EDEC strongly disapproves the violent calls and acts and calls on the relevant authorities to uphold justice and the constitutional rights of every citizen”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes a blog post of Guram Imnadze: Drugs, police and death. “Nowadays we rarely see mechanisms of obvious violence against drug users, such as street drug testing or drug “planting”, however, it does not mean that drug policy is no longer applied to use people merely as means in the run-up to elections, for police purposes, or to justify personal unlawful actions”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI hosted a delegation from Central Asian countries, particularly, from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. "The purpose of the study visit was to familiarize the interested parties with Georgia's experience in openness and transparency, especially concerning open budgeting and transparent management of public finances". Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. On July 13, Open Society Georgia Foundation started tranings for municipalities to present architectural projects in line with National Accessibility Standards being approved the by the state several months ago.  “The firts traning gathered respective employees of Tbilisi City Hall and Mtskheta-Tianeti municipalities. The new technical regulation is an integral part of the "Building Safety Rules" approved by the Government, setting out that no building or infrastructure, except for individual private housing, can be constructed without taking into account the needs of people with all categories of physical disabilities. The technical regulation came into force on March 1 and apply to construction permits issued after this period”.                                                   Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post prepared by Tamar Kintsurashvili and Keti Khutsishvili: Strategy of violent groups of Kremlin: Burning of Western symbols should become a norm. “Disruption of the Pride March of Tbilisi Pride and violence against journalists committed by violent groups were inspired by aggressive and threatening statements of “Alt-Info”, a TV Company connected with the party of Levan Vasadze – “Unity, Identity, Hope”. TV hosts of the Company were even among organizers of the violent contraction carried out on July 5”. Read more… Source: mythdetector.ge

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 a statement, made by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, at the Supreme Court, judges have been appointed as a result of a deal between the clan and the Government. “Regardless questions related to competence and conscientiousness of candidates, the Legal Affairs Committee recommended to hire some of the participants of the competition. On its part, the plenary session acknowledged recommendations completely and appointed 6 judges to the position. It should also be noted that among candidates, appointed to the position, were individuals loyal to the influential group of judges – the clan and their leaders. The decision was not based on a broad consensus among parties, which fact is going to have a negative impact on confidence in court in the future”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. UN Women in partnership with the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) is organizing a workshop. „The event aims at strengthening anti-sexual harassment mechanisms and promoting gender sensitive working environment in the civil service“.                                                          Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. With USAID/PROLoG support a survey on implementation of the new Law Benchmark document in the accreditation process of academic programs was solicited. „The survey identified challenges in different directions, including uniform application of the Law Benchmark document and composition of the accreditation board“. Survey…                                                            Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) has launched the renewed website www.edec.ge. Information on the site is available in Georgian and English languages. The presented information is also accessible for persons with low vision.                                                                     Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. According to information released by International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a version of overdose death of Lashkarava was posted on the Facebook page of “Marshalpress” about an hour earlier than the Ministry drew our attention to this information at its first briefing. “There was mentioned Ioseb Khimshiashvili, some politician, in the material as a source of it. Soon the online edition disseminated the news via open groups in an organized manner. Otar Stepanishvili, the founder of “Marshalpress”, was among those who shared the post”.                                                              Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Read the joint study by IDFI and Social Justice Center "Independent Investigative Mechanism in Georgia - Achievements and Existing Challenges". “The study reflects the analysis of the institutional and legal framework related to the investigative function of the State Inspector's Service, identifies existing challenges and shortcomings, reveals obstacles to the investigation process, and provides specific recommendations that will help improve the capacity of the State Inspector’s Service”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On July 12, 2021, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria met with President Salome Zourabichvili. “According to the Public Defender, the events developed on and after July 5, as well as shortcomings in the ongoing investigations, were discussed at the meeting; In this regard, the Public Defender stressed the need to bring the organizers of violent actions to justice, which has not happened so far”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Shida Kartli. Society Biliki is starting a campaign to diversify the library for Society Biliki's Mother and Their Children's Shelter. “If you would like to join the campaign and contribute doing good business, please donate at least one book (fiction and children's literature). Address: Gori, Rustaveli St. N 19 A; Society Biliki's office. Khashuri, Imereti St. N20; Mother and Their Children's Shelter”.                                            Source: The Organization’s page on the social network