Tbilisi. According to the opinion of the Social Justice Center (formerly EMC), the Code of Administrative Offenses becomes even more repressive with intended changes. “The changes completely disregard the necessity of a reform of the Code of Administrative Offenses demanded by civil society organizations and human rights defenders over the years, while instead they provide even more room for arbitrary use of police repressive mechanisms and charges. We call on the Parliament not to support the initiated changes and, in return, to start working on a fundamental reform of the Code of Administrative Offences in a timely manner”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) negatively responds to draft changes to be made in the Code of Administrative Offenses and calls on the Parliament not to support planned amendments. “On April 26, at the Parliament of Georgia, there were registered two bills that are supposed to be reviewed in an expedited manner. One of them concerns changes to be made in Articles 166 (petty hooliganism) and 173 (disobedience to a lawful demand of police) of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia. According to the bill, sanctions, envisaged by both Articles, are significantly tightened, besides, the role of the judge is reduced - taking into account factual circumstances of a case, determine the size of a sanction or use a verbal warning”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) releases the blogpost: The Significance of the Modernized Convention 108 for Georgia. “By signing the Convention 108+, Georgia will undertake an international commitment to ensure a higher standard of data protection, greater accountability of the controller, and effective oversight of data protection. Particular emphasis should be placed on the obligation to ensure effective oversight of data processing for national security and defense purposes, which will be an important step forward in terms of increasing the accountability of the security sector”.  Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Samegrelo. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) protected a juvenile who was sexually harassed in a public place. “Zugdidi District Court confirmed the fact of sexual harassment committed against a juvenile and fined the responsible person GEL 600. The person, subject to the administrative liability, applied to the Kutaisi Court of Appeals contesting the court decision, however, the Court of Appeals also shared the factual and legal reasoning, provided in the first-instance court decision, and left the decision unchanged. GYLA carried out this case with the support of USAID/PROLoG”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by “Rights Georgia”, almost four years after the start of the investigation, a petition submitted by Archil Chopikashvili, a lawyer of the organization, has been satisfied and Afghan Mukhtarli, an Azerbaijani journalist, who was abducted by unidentified people in May 2017 in Tbilisi and handed over to the Government of Azerbaijan, has been granted the status of victim. Besides, the qualification of the case has been specified. Read more… Source: www.rights.ge

Tbilisi. “I am an heiress too”, a new campaign of both Sapari and “Naambobi” web platform, calls on people to overcome gender prejudices during distribution of inheritance. “I am an heiress too”, a Facebook campaign, is basically based on life stories of respondents in regard to distribution of inheritance and exposes many of unjust traditions that are rooted in our customary law or culture. Read more… Source: sapari.ge

Tbilisi. On April 21, the Public Defender presented a special report – “Impact of closure of so-called checkpoints in 2019-2020 years on legal situation of population living in the occupied territories”. “According to the opinion of the Ombudsman, formal regime, imposed by the de facto Government to regulate movement on the occupation line, as well as establishment of various barriers, such as unpredictable closures of so-called checkpoints, unlawful detentions, problems related to de facto documentation required for relocation and etc., restrict freedom of movement of residents of the occupied regions and create unjustified obstacles to them in terms of access to livelihoods. It is important to have the Government of Georgia use support, provided by the international community, and apply all possible mechanisms to protect rights of people living in the occupied territories. This includes negotiations with representatives of the occupation regime so as to convince them to let international missions access conflict regions”. Read more... Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 19, GYLA called on parties, involved in the mediation process, to sign a compromise proposal presented by the President of the European Council, however, the organization made it clear that the agreement should be implemented in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia and international standards. The organization urges political parties to “prevent initiation of a bill that aims to extend the amnesty to crimes committed by law enforcers on June 20-21, 2019 (regardless of what the qualification of the investigation is). Otherwise, not only the issue of individual criminal responsibility of an offender is going to be endangered, but also public trust in and respect for the law enforcement system, as well as fulfillment of the state obligation to combat the sense of impunity that an offender may have due to his official position. As a result, among other benefits, the right to freedom of assembly or expression will also be significantly harmed”. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) presents an overview of the situation related to work and employment of LGBTQ people in Georgia. This chapter is part of a study - “Social exclusion of LGBTQ Group” carried out by the organization. “Present chapter contains a survey of an employment status and current working conditions of LGBTQ people in the first section. It aims to expose the practice of breach of human rights, which occurs in the workplace, creates a disgraceful work environment and, sometimes, leads to unemployment”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) calls for protection of rights of children at the Ninotsminda boarding school through court. “Instruct the Ministry of Health and the Ninotsminda shelter for children to not restrict the Public Defender from entering there and carrying out thorough monitoring; The Ministry of Health to visit the shelter immediately and study the situation existing there”. With these demands, the organization, as a holder of a special plaintiff status, has already appealed to the Tbilisi City Court in order to protect rights of children living in large institutions. Read more… Source: phr.ge

Tbilisi. ”Social Justice Center”, “Rights Georgia” and “Women’s Initiatives Support Group” respond to the fact of obstruction of activities of trustees of the Public Defender of Georgia by the administration of a Javakheti Ninotsminda Saint Nino boarding school, N(N)LE of the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church for orphan and homeless children, as well as those deprived of parental care. “We, the signatory organizations, call on the state to take all measures for unwavering protection of rights of children in religious boarding schools and bringing these institutions under real and effective monitoring of the state”. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Social Justice Center publishes a video, in which local activists and young people share concerns about difficulties and social challenges of their life in Javakheti. “High migration and thousands of local people left without a status of citizenship, poverty, undeveloped social infrastructure, cheating practices of casinos in Akhalkalaki, weak policy of youth employment - this is the basic list of those social problems, which people in Javakheti face”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) presents a brief summary of main findings provided in the 2020 report of the US Department of State and an overview of important issues emphasized by civil society organizations, the Office of the Public Defender, media and the international community during the reporting period. “In regard to protection of human rights there were identified the following key problems: significant challenges existing in terms of independence of the judiciary; politically motivated investigations and prosecutions; cases of unlawful encroachment on the right to privacy; interference with the right to peaceful assembly and expression; and violent or threatening crimes committed against LGBT people”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Women’s Movement expresses unconditional solidarity with Ninutsa Makashvili. We hope that the state of Georgia and society will be united in fight against violence, while each attempt of its justification will be strongly condemned. “A few days ago, on the air of Rustavi 2, Ninutsa Makashvili, an actress, spoke about her painful personal experience, according to which years ago she became a victim of systematic domestic violence committed by Beso Zanguri, an actor, her then-husband. In our country, where domestic violence is unfortunately a frequent occurrence, while society is still insufficiently intolerant of this type of crime, victims need to mobilize great strength and courage in order to talk about their experiences openly and publicly. In this reality, even more appreciated and exemplary is the decision of Ninutsa Makashvili to speak loudly about the violence committed by Beso Zanguri, her ex-husband, an actor of Rustaveli National Theater. We believe that her courage will be contagious and become a motivation for many women. It is unacceptable for us that Beso Zanguri, a person exposed in a dangerous crime of domestic violence, who has neither been held responsible for nor expressed any regrets, stands on the stage of Rustaveli National Theater and continues his career as if nothing has happened. Therefore, we demand to have Beso Zanguri quit his professional activities in the theater until the investigation in the case is completed...” Read more... Source: The website of the Movement on a social network

Tbilisi. Women’s Fund in Georgia responds to current developments in the Rioni Valley and expresses its solidarity with guards of the Valley. “We consider that by restricting freedom of assembly and expression, the Government of Georgia grossly violates constitutional rights of its citizens, applies a disproportionate, repressive police force against participants of a peaceful protest, restricts the right of citizens to movement, and escalates the situation in the Valley. Besides, it is completely unacceptable and outrageous to demolish tents of guards of the Valley, cultivate the gathering place, erect a wall, and apply unethical attempts to harm the reputation of guards in order to discredit them. We address relevant agencies to immediately stop violence against people in favor of the company “Enka”... Read more... Source: The website of the organization  

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center (formerly EMC) responds to the fact of detention of Giorgi Mumladze, a civil activist, during a rally held on April 14, 2021, in front of the office of the “Georgian Dream” party. The organization notes that the investigation launched against him under Article 353 Part 1 of the Criminal Code creates a dangerous precedent in terms of freedom of expression and democratic order. “The tendency of use of an unjustified police force against civil activists during last period of time deserves criticism and concern. At the same time, response of the state to facts of unjustified restriction of the right to assembly and manifestation is weak and ineffective, which has a negative effect on exercising this right”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI) responds to developments that took place on April 14, 2021, at the office of the Georgian Dream party and considers that police actions are aimed at unjustifiably restricting freedom of assembly, while applying mechanisms of criminal justice against activists is one more step taken towards an authoritarian regime. “We call on the Government of Georgia to stop criminal prosecution and use of repressive policies against civil activists for their protest within the framework of the right to assembly and manifestation and act in accordance with constitutional principles”, - is noted in the statement released by GDI. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center states that the Government does not leave a space for dialogue around Namakhvani HPP. “Developments that took place yesterday were not the first case of demonstration of force against participants of a rally opposing construction of Namakhvani HPP. The Government, in official statements, declares its readiness for dialogue, on the one hand, while on the other hand, by mobilizing numerous police forces in the valley, imposing unjustified restrictions and violating rights of local population grossly, it contributes to escalation of the process itself and does not leave a space for substantive, constructive dialogue”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Imereti. The Kutaisi Court of Appeals announced its decision on the case of construction of a new mosque in Batumi and left the verdict of the Batumi City Court unchanged. The Court of Appeals agreed with the argument of the Batumi City Court regarding unlawfulness of a refusal of the Batumi City Hall to issue the first stage permit for construction of a new mosque in Batumi and discriminatory treatment of plaintiffs on religious grounds. Interests of a foundation to support construction of a new mosque in Batumi are defended in court by the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) and Social Justice Center (formerly EMC). Read more… Source: tdi.ge

Tbilisi. The Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) responds to developments that take place in the Rioni Valley. “We respond to developments, taking place in the Rioni Valley, and consider that it is not understandable and justifiable to set “block posts” in the direction of the village of Namakhvani and restrict freedom of movement for citizens of Georgia on the territory of the country. Besides, police dismantled tents of activists and the local population, where there was held a continuous, peaceful protest for 169 days. The argument, presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to justify this, does not meet basic requirements for interference with the right that is stipulated by the Constitution of Georgia and human rights standards”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) releases a statement in regard to developments around the Namakhvani HPP project. “It is almost six months now that there takes place a continuous peaceful protest in Georgia against the Namakhvani HPP project. During the last period of time, the state has intensified the use of various policy measures, including blocking the road from Kutaisi to Namakhvani. Almost 10 days have passed since the restriction of freedom of movement. The State has not presented any convincing argument so far to substantiate the legality of the restriction. Developments evolved alarmingly on April 11, when police dismantled tents of participants of the protest and, at the same time, restricted lawyers/human rights defenders and journalists to enter the area”, - is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. By TI, the actions taken by the state in the Rioni gorge grossly violate constitutional rights and freedoms namely, freedom of movement and freedom of expression. “Other than this, the state has not yet pursued a proper policy and has not conducted an adequate dialogue with the population. It is alarming that the repressive police force has again been chosen as a way to address the issue. The police and the protesters have again been left face to face. By taking such steps, the state further deepens distrust of law enforcement agencies and damages their reputation in the eyes of the public. We call on the authorities to end the unjustified, disproportionate, and arbitrary restrictions on the freedom of expression and freedom of movement, to give the “Rioni Gorge Defenders” the opportunity to protest peacefully, and to choose a way of dialogue with the protesters to address the issue”, - Is mentioned in the information TI spared. Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization