This report is provides a brief contextual overview describing legal and structural peculiarities of the operating environment for Georgian CSOs. Next, it outlines the methodological approaches used in this study. This is followed by the main findings, specifically with a chapter on the internal governance structure of Georgian CSOs, a section analyzing the economic and financial sustainability of these entities. Next comes a chapter assessing CSO capacities and the nature of multilateral cooperation. The empirical part concludes with the analysis of CSO participation in policy dialogue. The report wraps up with conclusions and evidence-based recommendations  This report has been produced with the assistance of the European Union and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung within the frameworks of “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”. Study...

Tbilisi. According to information released by Transparency International Georgia, there are about 3,200 entities that are registered in Georgia and have links with offshore companies. “Within the framework of the survey we managed to identify 10 offshore companies that are related to Bidzina Ivanishvili. In 2012-2020 years, 6 offshore companies received state property via direct privatization mode, in three of which cases the price of the property was symbolic - one Georgian lari. While 15 offshore companies received GEL 77 million worth of property through an auction. Officials can secretly participate in state projects, procurement and privatization via offshore companies, which is a contributing factor to “elite corruption”. We recommend to make sure Georgia complies with recommendations of the Anti-Corruption Network of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and demands disclosure of actual owners of offshore companies at least in the cases when these companies or their subsidiaries participate in privatization of state property, state procurement or any other state-funded program”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Chairman of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has sent an address to members of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, in which he calls on Deputies to review planned amendments to the Law on Political Parties and the Election Code. The legislative initiative envisages termination or suspension of state funding for boycotting parties, as well as deprivation of free airtime from them. As it is known to the public, in March of the current year the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR came up with a joint opinion on these bills, in which they strongly criticized them. Organizations consider that termination of state funding for parties poses threat to the ability to continue their activities and, in general, to party pluralism. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has learned that a former beneficiary of the Ninotsminda Orphanage has allegedly been forced to leave the dormitory of the St. Tbel Abuseridze Teaching University of the Georgian Patriarchate after the letter informed the law enforcement agency about alleged violence that occurred in the orphanage. The Public Defender has already started examining the alleged discrimination against the former beneficiary of the orphanage. In addition, she appealed to the law enforcement agency to respond to the allegations of coercion, pressure and psychological violence. As result of communication between the Public Defender and relevant agencies, the young beneficiary has been temporarily placed in a safe environment, as the person had no other place to live in. The Public Defender will monitor the provision of long-term housing to the person. Read more… Source: ombudsman.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...

Imereti. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) was defending four activists of “guardians of the Rioni Valley” detained on May 27, 2021 in the village of Gumati. “The Kutaisi City Court has completed hearings of cases of administrative violation of detainees. The court did not find facts of disobedience to the lawful demand of the police. Respectively, it terminated court proceedings in this part. As for the article of petty hooliganism, the court considered the misconduct as a violation of minor importance, released participants of the rally from liability and gave them just a verbal warning”. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Religious associations, members of the Council of Religions of the Public Defender of Geogia, express deep concern and heartache over the frequent baseless attacks on Public Defender Nino Lomjaria and her staff, as well as the ombudsman institution in general. “We consider it necessary to remind everyone that the Public Defender is a constitutional institution; It is its duty to protect, conscientiously, without any bias, people whose rights are violated, people who are under pressure. It is particularly concerning and unacceptable that intolerance, hatred, calls for persecution and violence are often disguised as religion and patriotism, whereas religion and love of country have nothing to do with hatred”. Read more... Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has submitted a report on amendments to the Election Code to the Parliament. The organization supports improvement of the election legislation and reflection of a large part of the April 19 document of Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in it, however, GYLA has comments related to the bill on the following issues: Staffing of district commissions; Control of the will of the electorate; Electoral system of local self-government; Deadlines for appealing election disputes; Mandatory recount; Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Imereti. On June 4, 2021, a presentation of Imereti Regional Hub project, was held in Kutaisi. “The aim of Imereti Regional HUB is to strengthen civil society at the regional level, which will be achieved by maintaining the sustainability of civil society organizations, ensuring transparency and increasing the degree of accountability. The presentation was attended by representatives of civil society organizations, media, self-government, business, youth and civic leaders of Imereti region”. Read more… The project is implemented by a consortium led by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), with the following NGOs: The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), the Civil Society Initiative (CSI), the Consultation and Training Center (CTC), the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) and the Institute for European Politics (IEP). Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Documentation received by Social Justice Center in the form of public information reveals that the company “Enka” has got an extension of the deadline for submission of construction documentation for the Kvemo Namakhvani HPP from the Ministry of Economy for another year. “We consider that this decision of the Ministry is another unjustified concession granted to “Enka”, which proves that statements regarding proper study of the project are false and unfounded. Besides, this process explains the real motive of announcement of a 9-12-month “moratorium” on construction of the dam. The delay in construction of the dam building is, in fact, connected not to the compromise of both the government and the company, but to the fact that the company delayed submission of complete project design related documentation itself and requested an extension of the deadline from the state for the same period of time”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. How can Georgian business benefit from becoming ‘greener’? - Find out on the e-Cards produced with the support of the UNIDO and EU4Environment programme… Source: www.euneighbours.eu

In 2021, CSI began the implementation of the second phase of the CSO Meter project. The project – "CSO Meter: A Compass to Conducive Environment and CSO Empowerment" – responds to the following needs.: Apply CSO Meter monitoring to ensure incorporation of those standards and indicators that have an impact on an enabling environment, current or topical issue; Conduct a comparative analysis of civil society environments at both country and regional levels, assess progress or its interruption, and strive towards policy dialogue; Form an extended group of experts and organizations to use CSO Meter as both monitoring and evidence-based advocacy tools, thus facilitating the creation of an enabling legal environment and practices. Read more... The project - CSO Meter: A Compass to Conducive Environment and CSO Empowerment is implemented by organizations of Eastern European countries under the auspices of the European Center for Non-for-Profit Law (ECNL) and with financial support from the European Union. Partner organizations are Transparency International Armenia (TIAC); MG Consulting LLC (Azerbaijan), the Civil Society Institute (Georgia), Promo-LEX Association (Moldova), the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (Ukraine).

Tbilisi. According to the National Preventive Mechanism Report 2020, patients of mental health institutions are not protected from violence, inhuman or degrading treatment. The cases of ill-treatment in mental health institutions are of various forms, scales and severity. Read more: National Preventive Mechanism Report 2020... Source: ombudsman.ge

Abkhazia. In May, USAID/Georgia representatives visited Georgia’s Abkhazia region, demonstrating the wide range of USAID assistance by visiting medical facilities, higher and vocational education centers, and small businesses. „It was the first U.S. Government visit to Georgia’s Abkhazia region since March 2019, providing a vital opportunity to demonstrate continued U.S. commitment for development in the region, and to counter the perception that people living in Abkhazia must depend on Russia for a stable and secure future“. Read more about the visit here... Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. In June 2021, within the framework of the International Child Protection and Environment Weeks, representatives of the Eastern and Western Georgia Divisions of the Public Defender's Office held webinars and meetings in Georgian, Azerbaijani and Armenian languages with public school students, teachers, parents, representatives of preschools and community centers in various regions of the country. They also participated in TV/radio programmes. The events covered Imereti, Samegrelo, Guria, Adjara, Svaneti, Shida Kartli, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Based on the appeal of the Public Defender of Georgia, LEPL Agency for Regulation of Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities studied the arbitrary treatment of infants with the so-called "Mowgli method" and established illegal medical activity. The examination found that this method is an intervention that poses a risk to the life and health of children, which, especially at an early age, can lead to severe and irreversible complications. Administrative liability has been imposed on the person using this method. Read more... Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition responds to a competition of judges of the Supreme Court and addresses to the Government to conduct the process of election of judges. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary Calls on the Government to conduct the process of election of judges of the Supreme Court on the basis of a political consensus between the parliamentary majority and the opposition. Otherwise, not take a decision on this issue till the fundamental justice reform is carried out. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The Public Defender is responding to the ruling of the Tbilisi City Court on the lawsuit filed by the Partnership for Human Rights, CSO, relating to the removal of minors from the Ninotsminda orphanage.  The Public Defender considers the immediate enforcement of the court ruling necessary. “The ruling, once again, clearly indicates the real risk and danger that exist in the institution in terms of the protection of children’s rights and requires timely and coordinated action by the state agencies. The Public Defender notes that the situation in the orphanage is not in line with the interests of minors or the relevant standards; the situation is dangerous in terms of the protection of children from violence, their full development, socialization and preparation for an independent life”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Imereti. Social Justice Center examined main demands of participants of the protest in Shukruti and reasons of their disagreement with the company, on the one hand, while on the other hand, circumstances, preconditioning this extensive social and environmental crisis, which preceded the protest in Chiatura Municipality. “Residents and representatives of the company assessed damage differently - in terms of both methodology and coverage of different types of damage. It is important to direct efforts of state agencies and knowledge of industry accumulated therein towards assessment of damage associated with mineral extraction as in case of specific owners, as well as in conjunction with the natural environment of the municipality as a whole. This intervention should be carried out in the form of elaboration of a common standard for damage assessment, which would position possible negative impact of the mining sector more sustainably, fairly and methodically in the area of regulation". Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary calls on the President of Georgia to take into consideration challenges that the judiciary faces, as well as the special role of the Constitutional Court and act in the spirit of the Constitution of Georgia. “On July 26, the term of office of Tamaz Tsabutashvili, a judge of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, expires. The new member of the court must be appointed by the President of Georgia and, according to legislation, the new member must be assigned within the period from June 26 to July 16. It is important to make sure that the President provides a transparent and inclusive process for selection of a member of the Constitutional Court, so that public has confidence in both the process and the candidate selected as a result of it”. Read more… Source: www.coalition.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) responds to a statement of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia in regard to conducted studies about economic benefits of the Namakhvani HPP, which was released by the Ministry to confirm the existence of a cost-benefit analysis of the project. “The content of the statement of the Ministry confirms that at the stage of preparation of the project, the cost-benefit analysis of specifically the Namakhvani HPP project was not carried out, which fact is a gross violation of requirements of Georgian legislation. The organization calls on the Government and relevant agencies repeatedly to publicize the conclusion of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia on the Namakhvani HPP project and the cost-benefit analysis of the project immediately". Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. As the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) informs, on May 19, in the Parliament of Georgia, there was initiated a bill aimed at enforcing a decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia regarding the case of “Giorgi Keburia v. Parliament of Georgia” and, following to this, bringing the criminal procedure legislation in compliance with the Constitution of Georgia. “The amendment, proposed through the bill, is not completely in line with the spirit provided by the Constitutional Court and, in general, executes the decision of the court technically. It is important to make sure that the bill, proposed to address existing structural and systemic shortcomings, is made more specific, provides more guarantees for defendants in terms of their rights, and equips law enforcement agencies with real opportunities to obtain “neutral evidences”, including video footages”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge