Tbilisi. The Government of Georgia has approved the draft Self-Government Code at its October 30 sitting, pursuant to which cities with the population over 15 thousand people will be awarded the self-governing status. Under the effective legislation, there are only five self-governing cities in Georgia: Tbilisi, Rustavi, Kutaisi, Poti and Batumi. According to the new Code, public councils are to be set up in the villages, and in parallel with the Governor's institute, collegiate bodies are to be enacted.

A fundamental principle of the self-government reform is the maximum activation of citizens and their direct participation in the governing process. As a result of planned reforms, a public self-government will be set up in each settlement, as a democratic institute of the citizen's direct participation in governance. Territorial optimization of a full municipal self-governance will take place and the number of self-governing cities will increase and enhance from functional and material standpoint.

CSOs have developed the draft Self-Government Code with support of "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation and assistance from the US Agency for International Development.

Source: osgf.ge