Tbilisi. ”No to Phobia!” platform member organizations release a statement concerning expressions used in regard to the Batumi Mosque.  “We call on government representatives and public officials to refrain from making statements of xenophobic and discriminatory character and to adhere to the principles of freedom of religion, rule of law and equality, guaranteed by the Constitution”, - is noted in the statement released by “No to Phobia!” platform member organizations.  Read more… Source: www.humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia joins the public criticism regarding the pardoning of certain individuals by the President of Georgia and calls on the President to ensure maximum transparency and public involvement in the exercise of pardon power.  ‘The Public Defender explains that the discretionary nature of the pardon power does not imply its use without any justification. Pardoning should be aimed at achieving a specific task – be it in light of state, political, judicial, or special individual circumstances.1In each case, the use of such an exceptional power must be as perceptible and understandable as possible for the public’, - Is mentioned in the statement of the Public Defender.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia considers that during actions, taking place after June 20, citizens of Georgia, including Members of Parliament of Georgia, journalists and representatives of the non-parliamentary opposition, have been deprived the right to enter the building of the Parliament of Georgia a number of times. “Openness and transparency of the Parliament are essential for democratic development of the country. It is important for the Parliament of Georgia to maintain those achievements of openness and transparency, which indicate high standards and have gained international recognition”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization, - “We call on the Open Governance Permanent Parliamentary Council, within the framework of parliamentary openness and transparent governance monitoring at the Parliament, to study and evaluate facts of prohibition on entry of citizens and Members of Parliament into the Parliament building within the period after June 20”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia found age discrimination against the Ardi insurance company, as the company refused to grant travel insurance to A. G. (born in 1937) and S.Kh. (born in 1943).  The Public Defender indicates in her recommendation that the written explanation provided to the applicants is based on stereotypes about older people. In addition, similar blanket approach of insurance companies may make it impossible for older persons to have access to travel insurance, which may be seen as interference with the right to freedom of movement.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center calls on the City Court to not restrict the lawyer of Zaza Saralidze from attending trials. “At the trial, carried out on September 12, where Zaza Saralidze was interrogated as a witness, the court did not consider a request of the victim and did not allow his lawyer to attend the hearing. Consequently, the lawyer of the Human Rights Center was not given the possibility to participate in the interrogation of Zaza Saralidze, the victim under his protection. As a matter of fact, at every stage of proceedings in regard to mentioned criminal case, this lawyer represented the victim both at various state agencies and in court”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization, - “The Human Rights Center calls on the Tbilisi City Court to ensure protection of rights of the victim in accordance with current legislation of Georgia, as well as with international standards, and to not restrict the lawyer of the victim from attending further trials”. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender terms segregation of students by University of Georgia according to their academic performance as discriminatory.  „According to the practice of the University of Georgia, students with less than 2 points are not allowed to choose all the proposed groups and hours during the registration period, while no similar restriction apply to students with higher points. Such a division among first-semester students is based on the results of the Unified National Exams. According to the University, the purpose of such a division is to improve the quality of education“, - Mentions the Public defender, - “The Public Defender recommended the University of Georgia to abolish the differentiated groups at all stages of education and in all departments, in particular the restrictions relating to the students’ opportunity to choose courses regardless of their GPA (or results of the Unified National Exams in case of first-semester students)”.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Humanrights.ge published a brochure “Stories of Illegal Detentions along the Occupation Line in Georgia”.  “This brochure aims to raise awareness regarding the problems and human rights violations ongoing in the occupied territories of Georgia, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia. The brochure includes the real stories told by the individuals who have been the victims of illegal detention and kidnapping by the representatives of the Russian Federation in recent years”, - Is mentioned in the preface of the brochure.  Read more… Source: humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) submitted its opinion to the Parliament regarding the draft law on “Personal Data Protection” initiated on 22 May 2019.  The opinion of IDFI covers the following important issues: grounds for processing personal data; grounds for processing special categories of personal data; termination of processing of personal data, erasure and destruction of data; restriction of processing of data.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) publishes a blog post: “Dynamic of issuance of restraining orders by regions requires further analysis and appropriate actions from MIA”. “In 2014-2018 years, the indicator of issuance of restraining orders has a growing tendency in almost every region, except Guria and Samtskhe-Javakheti”. Read more… Source: phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to prohibition of placement of a tent for Malkhaz Machalikashvili in front of the Parliament. “EMC considers that prohibition of placement of a tent for Malkhaz Machalikashvili in front of the Parliament without alternative is an infringement of freedom of assembly and contradicts legislation of Georgia”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), the Strasbourg court has imposed responsibility on Georgia for breach of the right of Zurab Vazagashvili to life. “The European Court clarified that during proceedings, carried out on a national level, courts clearly emphasized that policemen acted officially while executing the special operation, respectively, the murder of Zurab Vazagashvili would be imposed on the state”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. “Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center” (EMC) and “Partnership for Human Rights” (PHR) respond to one more toughest tragedy that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old teenager while working on a construction site and express their sympathies to his family. “According to appraisals of EMC and PHR, the situation in terms of labor safety in the country is alarming, while efforts of the state to respond to the current challenge are inadequate”, - is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender informed provided information on the criminal case of abuse of power by the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on June 20-21 to the Advisory Council.  "The joint recommendation of the Public Defender and the Council is to focus on the study of the overall situation: how the police used the force; whether the force used by police was in compliance with the instructions and legislative regulations in Georgia; how the operation was planned; who issued orders and who was responsible for the execution of the orders. These are the main issues and the investigation should focus on the abuse of power by individual police officers only after studying all this,"- the Public Defender told journalists.  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Public Defender made a Statement on the Death of a Minor Worker on 16 July 2019.  ‘The situation of safety at work remains a major challenge in the country. Improvement of the alarming situation is significantly hindered by the restrictions imposed for labour inspectors on the one hand, which will be lifted only from September 2019, and by the lack of human and financial resources of the Labour Conditions Inspection Department on the other hand’, - is mentioned in the statement.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. EMC responds to the rejection of allegations against Tamar Mearakishvili by Akhalgori regional court, which is under control of Tskhinvali de facto government.  “Regardless of the physical and economic isolation for 2 years, repression, restriction of freedom of movement and violation of other fundamental rights, Tamar managed for the second time to prove that the allegations were groundless. Obviously, there still exists an opportunity for the de facto prosecutor’s office to appeal the judgment in higher instances. It is yet unknown whether they will use this opportunity or not”, - mentions EMC, - “It is vital that Tskhinvali de facto authorities cease the practice of repressions and to fully restore her rights. Amongst, it's essential that Tamar gets back her Identity documents and her freedom of movement is restored”.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Public Defender Responds to Ongoing and Planned Demonstrations on Rustaveli Avenue.  “The Public Defender of Georgia is actively watching the events developing on Rustaveli Avenue. Opponents of Tbilisi Pride gathered in front of the Parliament building in the morning after organizers of Tbilisi Pride annulled their pride march. They demand abolition of the anti-discrimination law and prohibition of Tbilisi Pride. In addition, they say they will not let civil activists continue the anti-occupation protests”, - is mentioned in the statement, - “The Public Defender urges the participants of the ongoing and planned demonstrations in front of the Parlaiment to select certain individuals for holding constructive negotiations that will allow conduct of both demonstrations in a smooth and peaceful atmosphere. The Public Defender of Georgia urges the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect the freedom of expression of civilians as much as possible and to ensure full realization of the right to assembly for everyone gathered on Rustaveli Avenue”.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Ajara. The Constitutional Court recognized unconstitutional a norm, which restricted temporary exposition of a protest banner on a private property with the consent of an owner. Information in this regard has been released by the “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association”. “By its decision of July 4, 2019, the Constitutional Court has recognized unconstitutional the regulating content of a challenged norm, which deprives a property owner of the right to temporarily expose a banner on the front of his/her own house without the consent of the City Hall. The Constitutional Court has also considered unconstitutional punishment of a person, who temporarily exposes a protest banner on a temporary building with the consent of the owner of the building. The Constitutional Court has revealed a violation of freedom of expression in this case”, - is noted in the statement released by GYLA. Read more… Source: https://gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On 2 July 2019, the Public Defender's Office started to study the criminal case (#074220619801) of alleged abuse of power by the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on 20-21 June 2019 (investigation of the June 20-21 developments). “The Public Defender's Office will evaluate the investigation process by taking into account the international standards of effective investigation. Independence, timeliness, accuracy and competence of investigation, as well as involvement of victims in the process, will be the evaluation criteria. The Public Defender's Office will particularly focus on whether: all necessary investigative/procedural actions were conducted; investigative/procedural actions were conducted in a timely manner; investigation is not unreasonably delayed; investigative actions were conducted fully and with due diligence”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 21, the Tbilisi City Court imposed a fine of GEL 1000 on a number of people detained in regard to developments of June 20-21, despite absence of respective evidences. “While taking its decision, the court referred only on explanations of policemen and protocols of offence and detention compiled by them. Therefore, GYLA will submit complaints to the Court of Appeals on behalf of 12 persons who have been ordered to pay the fine”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Tbilisi City Court declared those accused of group, premeditated murder of Vitali Safarov guilty. “Avtandil Kandelakishvili and Giorgi Sokhadze were sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment each. The term of imprisonment began in September 2018. 25-year-old Vitali Safarov was assassinated on September 30, 2018, on Dumas Street in the center of Tbilisi”, - is stated on the website of the Human Rights Center in a social network. Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) and Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC Georgia) presented findings of the study on the role of judges in the criminal justice system. The study was implemented within the framework of “Facilitating Implementation of Reforms in the Judiciary (FAIR)”, a project funded by the European Union. “The study aimed to identify the issues in regard to the role of judges that legal professionals (judges and lawyers) find important for ensuring fair, impartial and human rights oriented criminal justice system”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. Public defender is responding to the Prosecutor General's readiness to engage the Public Defender of Georgia with the supervisory power in the investigation of cases of alleged abuse of power by police during the June 20-21 protests.  „The Public Defender has been demanding access to the materials related to the abuse of power by law enforcement officers for a long time. According to her, it is necessary that amendments be made to the draft law submitted to the Parliament of Georgia so that the Public Defender is granted access to the cases of special category. In addition, the above should not be a one-time action or should not depend on the good will of the Prosecutor's Office in exceptional cases. Every citizen should have equal hopes and expectations of the Public Defender“, - The Public Defender mentions.  Read more Source: http://ombudsman.ge