Tbilisi. The Human Rights Center made a presentation of its annual report at the conference hall of Human Rights House Tbilisi. ''The report of the Human Rights Center reviews developments in Georgia in 2018 in a legal context. The purpose of the report is to evaluate quality of response of various governmental agencies to violations of human rights, efficiency of justice and implemented legislative or systemic changes that are supposed to be directed towards introduction of international standards of protection of human rights on a national level'', - 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. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to facts of harassment committed by police against members and activists of the community opposing construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power plants in the Pankisi Gorge. The organization calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to refrain from practicing police control of local residents and arbitrary restriction of freedom of expression. Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. ''This Affects You Too'' publishes announcement: Government Should Exhibit Political Will and Clamp Down on Private Recording Blackmail. ''It is very alarming that the timing of the circulation of illegal recordings coincides with the critical statements by Eka Beselia in relation to the processes in the judiciary. It is of deep concern if certain individuals used the illegal recordings as means to stall reforms in the judiciary and protect the interests of the clan of judges that wield significant power within the judiciary. We call upon the Government of Georgia to timely and effectively investigate this case, to exhibit political will and bring an end the instances of illegal recording blackmail, as well as carry out the necessary legislative changes related to the regulation of secret surveillance'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to information of ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC), legal proceeding, initiated at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia against Malkhaz Machalikashvili in regard to the fact of administrative offense, has been terminated. Discussion is about investigation, launched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia with the motive of administrative misconduct that took place on September 11, 2018 while erecting tents in front of the Parliament. Rights of Malkhaz Machalikashvili were defended by EMC. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) has filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court. EMC considers that norms of legislation, which, on the one hand, significantly complicate the process of granting a status of victim to a person, while on the other hand, substantially restrict participation of a victim in a criminal proceeding, even in the case when the status is granted, are unconstitutional. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI) sues Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Parliament, for restricting freedom of expression. ''The case concerns restriction of critical views of Mariam Dolidze, protected through freedom of expression, by Irakli Kobakhidze on his official Facebook page. With mentioned lawsuit GDI demands from Irakli Kobakhidze to unblock the plaintiff on the official Facebook page'', - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. ''Georgian Democracy Initiative'' (GDI) submits a suit to the Constitutional Court of Georgia demanding abolishment of forced engagement of citizens into the pension system and suspension of its functioning until a decision is made on the case. ''GDI considers that obligatory engagement into the accumulative pension system and imposition of a compulsory contribution into the pension fund unjustifiably restrict property rights of an employed, while for an employer it equals to deprivation of a property'', - is noted in the statement released by GDI. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Keti Chutlashvili, a lawyer of ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC), the advocate of the Machalikashvili case, publishes an article – ''Why allegations of the State Security Service are unsubstantiated?'' The article contains information about an operation carried out by the State Security Service of Georgia on December 26, 2018, in several villages of the Pankisi Gorge. ''What information does the State Security Service release and why is this information inaccurate? What is support for terrorism and does the information released by the State Security Service indicate that this crime has been committed by Temirlan Machalikashvili? Is gross violation of criminal procedures and presumption of innocence evident through the information released by the State Security Service'', - these are the issues that the author reviews in this article. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. On November 8, 2018, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) began to examine the case of Giga Otkhozoria on merits. In particular, the Court addressed the Russian Federation, as the respondent State, with respective questions concerning the case of Otkhozoria’s murder. ''The Russian Federation will have to answer the ECtHR questions about the fact of deprivation of Giga Otkhozoria’s life and in particular, whether the Russian Federation violated Otkhozoria’s right to life and the extent to which the investigation into Otkhozoria’s murder by the national investigative authorities was effective. In addition, the ECtHR demands that the respondent State submit copies of all investigative materials obtained within the investigation of Otkhozoria’s murder carried out by the de-facto Abkhazian authorities. The Russian Federation must submit its answers to the ECtHR questions by the deadline of March 7, 2019'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) releases a statement regarding physical confrontation between supporters of opposition and representatives of police that took place in parallel with inauguration of the President yesterday, in Kakheti. ''We call on the Chief Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation of the incident occurred between supporters of opposition and representatives of police on December 16, besides, investigate timely and objectively both lawfulness of actions of police and the issue of injuries suffered by participants of the rally and policemen''. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations releases a statement regarding facts of intoxication and death caused by supposedly unknown, powerful narcotic substance. ''We call on the Ministry of Health to establish an expanded working platform with involvement of other agencies, where, through participation of professional and interested groups, there will be determined specific steps to be made for prevention of such facts'', - the statement reads. Read more... Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. ''International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy'' (ISFED) publishes a review of freedom of expression in Georgia in 2018. ''We may consider the year of 2018 as challenge to freedom of expression. Regressive initiatives and those restricting freedom of expression became a kind of tendency, including at the legislative body'', - the preface reads. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. On December 12, 2018, Georgian Young Lawyers Association addressed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Zurab Japaridze. ''On May 2, 2018, Zurab Japaridze, together with members of the political party "Girchy", witnessed the process of detention of a citizen by the representatives of the law enforcement agencies due to the possible use of drugs. The above mentioned fact was followed by the verbal protest of Z. Japaridze and the members of ''Girchy''. They explained to policemen the negative sides of repressive drug policy and legislation, including the detention of a person because of using of drug. According to local courts decision Z. Japaridze was recognized as an offender on the basis of Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code of Georgia for minor hooliganism and disobedience to the lawful request of police. The complainant was fined by the court by 2000 GEL'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. This morning, Tbilisi Appeal Court's chamber: judge Diana Berekashvili, judge Ketevan Dugladze, judge Besarion Tabagua, delivered precedential decision on workplace sexual harassment and ruled for Tatia Samkharadze. Tbilisi Appeal Court ruled against Shalva Ramishvili as he illegally used his power and sexually harassed employee Tatia Samkharadze. Due to the sexual harassment, Shalva Ramishvili is responsible to compensate for moral damages. Read more… Source: The organization’s webpage in a social network

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) addresses the Prosecutor’s Office in regard to the case of Zviad Ratiani and demands to start prosecution against police officers. ''One year has passed since police committed physical violence against Zviad Ratiani. However, within the framework of investigation carried out at the Prosecutor’s Office, none of the police officers, involved in the case, has been convicted, neither has the status of victim been granted to Zviad Ratiani'', - is noted in the statement released by EMC. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. GYLA Considers the Regulation Initiated with Regards to the Administration of the President to be Unconstitutional. ''On December 6, the legislative initiative of MPs Guram Macharashvili and Rati Ionatamishvili was submitted to the Parliament of Georgia, according to which the staff of the Administration of the President will be considered as persons employed by the administrative agreement and it will no longer use labor guarantees set for professional public servants. The Bureau made a decision to review the above-mentioned draft law in an accelerated manner, including to review it with two hearings in a day. We believe that the presented legislative initiative contradicts to the Constitution of Georgia, the judicial practice of the Constitutional Court of Georgia and it does not comply with the principles strengthened by the Law of Georgia on Public Service and violates labor rights of persons employed in the Administration of the President,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. ''Institute for Development of Freedom of Information'' (IDFI) has prepared a test and a guide, which contains rights to freedom of expression. ''Freedom of expression is not an absolute right. This means that in some cases it may be restricted. Take a test of IDFI and learn how well you know the scope of freedom of expression in this direction'', - IDFI addresses readers. Read more... Guide… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''No to Phobia!'' platform responds to developments at Public Service Hall and calls on law enforcement agencies to take immediate measures against blocking the entrance of the administrative institution, which fact prevents both operation of the institution and use of services of Public Service Hall. Read more… Source:mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. Throughout 2018, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has been maintaining its human rights protection work through litigation, monitoring and advocacy. ''In 2018, over 36’500 persons have benefited from the free legal aid of GYLA. Legal documents were prepared for over 4’700 persons (lawsuits, applications, statements, etc.), 120 cases have completed successfully already. Strategic litigation and advocacy of GYLA have made an important impact towards improvement of legislation and practice in various spheres of human rights. Monitoring efforts of GYLA have allowed revealing those issues, where additional efforts are necessary to resolve existing problems,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. According to TDI’s information Racially motivated violence was qualified as radial discrimination. On November 29, at around 7:00 pm a citizen of the Republic of Cameroon was traveling by public transport in Rustavi. According to G.M., one of the men in the mini-bus verbally and physically assaulted him because of the skin color. In particular, he was using the hate speech, telling the victim that his place was not in Georgia, he had to return to his country and also, was calling him "Zangi” (N-word). ''Immediately after engaging in the case, TDI requested to grant G.M. the victim status and to qualify the violence act as racial discrimination. On December 4, TDI lawyer participated in the identification procedure of the attacker and on December 6, G.M was officially granted the victim status,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: tdi.ge

Tbilisi. Women's Movement and non-governmental organizations address newly elected President of Georgia. ''Women's Movement congratulates Salome Zurabishvili on her becoming a president and reminds her, as a woman president that she has a significant role in improvement of situation in terms of women rights. Taking this into consideration, we call on Salome Zurabishvili to review the decision about considering the candidacy of Dimitri Gabunia on a position of Parliamentary Secretary of the President'', - 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. According to Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) the Ministry of Internal Affairs names change of crime prevention model as one of the components of the police system reform. ''In case of correct and thorough implementation of the reform there will be possibility of making significant changes into police practices and strengthening human rights based vision in police work'', - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:The website of the organization