Tbilisi. Every year contingency funds are created to cover unforeseen expenses within the framework of the national budget of Georgia. Given its nature, the resources of the contingency funds should be used in emergency situations, such as natural, epidemic, ecological and other kinds of disasters. However, in 2013-2017, when it came to the contingency fund of the Government of Georgia (GoG), as much funds were allocated to holding various events as on emergency or unforeseen situations. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Media Development Foundation has published outcomes of a study of 2017. It contains results of observation of both means of media and other sources - political class, clergy, civil society organizations and individual members of the society. ''...Within the monitoring period (January 1 - December 31, 2017) there were revealed a total of 1926 comments of discriminatory content, the largest part of which (49.1%) were related to xenophobia…'' – is stated in the study. Read more… Source: mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for development of freedom of information (IDFI) releases statistics on illegal fishing. In the period of 2010-2017, 4,688 instances of violations of fishing regulations were discovered, among these 18% had signs of criminal offences. Read more…  Source: datalab.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) addresses the Chief Prosecutor's Office and demands to launch an investigation regarding transfer of a 100% state-owned share of ''Tbilisi State Concert Hall'' with the right of management. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Institute for development of freedom of information releases statistics on Georgian theaters  There is a total of 49 theaters in the country. More than half of them are located in Tbilisi; Across the country, the number of plays held in all theaters was increasing annually, with the exception of 2016; In 2015-2016, the greatest number of plays, following Tbilisi, was held in the region of Imereti; The number of spectators at the plays was increasing annually. In the last few years, the majority of spectators (63-65%) attended plays in Tbilisi. In full... Source: The webpage of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association conducted a discussion on the topic – ''2017 election disputes - findings and challenges''. At the discussion there was presented a study – ''Strategic litigation of GYLA and observation of election disputes proceeded by other subjects (local observer organizations and election subjects) - analysis of 2017 election disputes''. The study was carried out within the framework of a project – ''Promotion of a competitive, fair and inclusive election environment for a 2016-2018 election cycle in Georgia'' and is being implemented with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''Every third citizen considers that local self-government bodies do not represent his/her interests'', - this conclusion is published by ''Transparency International – Georgia''. According to an enquiry conducted in 2018, in the opinion of 32% of respondents the City Mayor does not represent their interests, and in case of a City Assembly this indicator is even more - 34%. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association will prepare a legal appraisal of the May 12 developments. ''Developments of the May 12 night require proper documenting and appraisal, taking into consideration the extent of police actions, mass arrests and facts of the use of force by the police. For this purpose, ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) and the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association will thoroughly study developments of the May 12 night and those connected with this date'' - the disseminated statement reads. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI’s brochure includes the information on organization’s goals and the planned actions – within the framework of the ongoing international initiative on Transparent Pubic Procurement Rating - towards ensuring transparent public procurement system in Georgia and around the globe. The brochure also describes the progress made by IDFI’s team and its international partner organizations in terms of creating the standards for assessing public procurement legislations. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International Georgia'' publishes a study: Anatomy of Georgian Neo-Nazism. ''Although it is impossible to identify direct sources of funding Neo-Nazi organizations, still, individual leaders get in touch with the Russian state or local political organizations directly'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), the Constitutional Court does not comply with the standard of proactive publication. ''IDFI considers that for protection of a principle of publicity of information and more transparency of activities of the Constitutional Court, it is necessary to have the Court meet the standards of proactive publication and electronic delivery of public information, as defined by the decree of December 27, 2013'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Samegrelo. On May 13, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association monitored the interim elections of Zugdidi City Assembly. ''It should be noted that the elections were carried out in a peaceful environment and voters had an opportunity to make their choice freely'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia considers that Public Broadcaster should ensure transparency of salaries of employees. The request of Ninia Kakabadze, a member of the Board of Trustees, regarding provision of data about total funding of programs and salaries of employees was followed by a massive response. While according to the statement of Transparency, "legislation provides an explicit entitlement to the Board of Trustees not only to have an access to reimbursements of employees but also to approve itself a salary scale, which the broadcaster has not adopted yet, define a grade of an employee, salary fund, bonus amount, etc.” Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On May 2, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association made a presentation of a study: ''What is the value of Public Broadcaster?'' ''The study shows how much Public Broadcaster needs additional funds and how it manages finances allocated from the state budget, how efficiently the Board of Trustees operates and how it takes decisions in regard to making changes into the budget of Public Broadcaster'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association publishes results of a monitoring of the by-elections of the Parliament of Georgia to be conducted through the majoritarian system on April 28, 2018 in Vani and Khoni. ''The polling process was mostly carried out in a peaceful environment, there were no cases of violence observed there. Significant violations were committed while entering voters into the mobile ballot box list, which raises suspicion about mobilizing votes of the electorate through the mobile ballot box. Mentioned cases put the necessity of legislative amendments on the agenda'' – is stated in the document. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. International Society of Fair Elections and Democracy carried out observation of the April 28 Parliamentary By-Elections in Khoni-Vani #54 Majoritarian District through 25 short-term observers (STOs), 2 District Election Commission (DEC) observers and 2 mobile teams. The central office ran data analysis and incident centers. ''Based on the information received from ISFED observers, the voting process, closing of polling stations, counting and tabulation proceeded in a generally calm environment without significant violations. In some precincts procedural violations were observed. April 28 by-elections outlined a trend of high percentage of voters included in mobile ballot box lists which in majority of polling stations equaled or exceeded 3% threshold set by the Election Code. High percentage of voters in the mobile ballot box lists of the polling stations could bear a potential risk of electoral manipulation since the procedures of voting though mobile ballot box increase potential of such manipulation'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.isfed.ge

Tbilisi. ''International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy'' ISFED) publishes an evaluation of the pre-election period of the parliamentary by-elections scheduled on April 28 in a majoritarian district of Khoni and Vani. According to the conclusion of the organization, the pre-election campaign was carried out in a peaceful environment. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a report of 2017. ''In 2017 we actively participated in two important developments - one was related to the fundamental changes in the Constitution, while the other – to the challenges existing in the judicial system'' – is stated in the report of the organization. Read more... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International Georgia'' regularly monitors procurement carried out by public agencies. The attention of the organization was drawn by a tender conducted by the Academy of the Ministry of Finance, in which only one hotel participated. It turned out that the tender was restricted with unreasonable conditions from the beginning. Read more... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations consider that an initiative of Arveladze, a member of the Parliament, is contrary to goals of the Anti-Corruption Policy of Georgia and international commitments of the country. ''The proposed project significantly weakens an existing prevention and sanctioning standard, increases probability of conflict of interests and reduces possibility of carrying out public control over officials'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Members of the Georgian Parliament and representatives of local and international organizations discussed ideas for the third, 2018-2019 Open Parliament Action Plan, including those gathered through public consultations throughout Georgia and a student contest titled Your Idea for Open Parliament. ''The ideas are aimed at strengthening transparent and participatory legislative processes in Georgia. Georgia has many successes to showcase as it finds itself in this international spotlight. A recent report from OGP’s independent monitor shows outstanding progress on a public officials asset declaration monitoring system, citizens engagement in audit and the adoption of an environmental assessment code. The Open Budget Index for 2017 ranked Georgia 5th worldwide for fiscal transparency, ahead of many much older democracies like the UK and US'', noted Joe Powell, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Open Government Partnership Support Unit. In full… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Tolerance and Diversity Institute has published an evaluation of a 2016-2017 report prepared by the Agency for Religious Issues. "...The practice of recent years shows that activities of the Agency do not respond to basic and systemic problems faced by religious communities, which is confirmed by the presented report. Besides, a tendency of misinterpreting and incomplete delivery of information is observed” – is stated on the website of the organization. Evaluation of the report… Source:tdi.ge