Tbilisi. The "Institute for Development of Freedom of Information” (IDFI) published the policy document – "Challenges of the Georgian Bureaucratic System (2011-2016)”. The document studies the development and challenges of the Georgian state bureaucracy in 2011-2016 and its administrative expenses, including labor remuneration, work visit, representation, state vehicle and telecommunication expenses. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

On 21st of December, the forum on Monitoring of State Activities will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel. The main goal of the forum is to demonstrate the accumulated knowledge and experience in Georgian Civil Society in various fields of monitoring of the state activities, to offer a space for dialogue, discussion and sharing of experience to the participants, which will enhance their capacities in this direction and will increase interest towards recent trends and tendencies, as well as new and innovative approaches and methods in this field. The forum will also present the Monitoring Methodology Guideline on the State Grants for CSOs, which was developed within the framework of the project "Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” implemented by the consortium led by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and financed by the European Union and the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation.  The guideline describes the mechanisms, spheres, and the pile of monitoring methods of the state funding (grant) for Civil Society Organizations. The aim of the guideline is to provide theoretical directions, necessary methodological guidelines and practical examples to the state grants’ monitors for better implementation of their activities. The forum is organized by Civil Society Institute with financial support from the European Union in the framework of the project "Shaping Regional CSOs into Champions of Policy Dialogue and Public Sector Monitoring”. The project aims to support effective participation and governance through increasing CSOs’ capacities in public policy dialogue and monitoring, so that CSOs and their networks are effectively contributing to policy formulation, successfully lobby for local development needs and concerns of their constituency, are effectively implementing Government monitoring, have the ability to uphold public authorities accountable for their actions, call for government transparency and facilitate civic engagement. 

Tbilisi. On December 19, 9 financially the most transparent non-governmental organizations were identified at the Civil Society Regional Network conference. ''This year, 34 non-governmental organizations joined the Transparency Declaration, by signing which they took the responsibility to proactively publish information about their goals, planned and implemented activities, implementation deadlines, donors, and amounts of financing'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Members of the Constitutional Commission release a statement regarding a constitutional initiative of the Ministry of Justice. ''We are aware that the Parliament of Georgia is currently working on integrating recommendations of the Venice Commission into the Constitution. Respectively, we call on the Parliament to not go beyond this task and change edition of those articles that the Commission adopted as a result of intensive discussion and review'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a performance appraisal of Adjara Television and Radio of Public Broadcaster. ''Initiation of certain reforms in the broadcaster is associated with the name of Natia Kapanadze, specifically process of employment of the staff has become more transparent, the organization is open to citizens and interested persons, however Adjara Television and Radio is still facing a number of challenges'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a study: Who finances political parties in Georgia. ''From June 1 through November 1, 2017, 91% of total donations – GEL 15 480 402, made in favor of Georgian political parties, was received by ''Georgian Dream'', the ruling party, which amount exceeds ten times the total donations received by all other parties'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations release a joint statement regarding an initiative of the Ministry of Justice, which refers to a standard of protection of public information in the text of the newly adopted Constitution. In the opinion of signatory organizations, the constitutional amendment proposed by the Ministry of Justice will worsen access to public information. Read more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. According to a study of Transparency International Georgia Kakha Bekauri does not meet qualification requirements for a member/chairperson of the Georgian National Communications Commission. Bekauri has a mathematical background, while by law, the necessary condition for being a member of the commission is to be educated in other specialties. Read more... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations responds to an investigation of a case on leading Amiran Kvirikashvili to suicide. ''Despite having become known from the day of suicide of Kvirikashvili that his family and relatives were connecting this fact with the "interrogation” of the deceased at local police, which should exclude a competence of investigation of the case by local police, the investigation was still carried out by the MIA during five days and it hampered conducting timely and effective investigation of this case'' – the statement reads. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Georgia. GYLA&DRI held a media training for the Telavi, Kutaisi and Batumi media representatives within the joint project "Strengthening Political Plurality in Georgia". The main aim of three-day workshop was to raise awareness of the Georgian Regional media on the causes of political polarization and the forms of their identification appeared in media, share different practice of foreign media & their role in promoting political depolarisation and pluralism. In full Source: The organization’s page in social network

Tbilisi. On December 5, 2017, the Public Defender of Georgia presented a report on the situation of human rights and freedoms in 2017 to representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations and civil society. ''The Public Defender’s report reflects significant achievements and problems in the field of human rights, resolution of which is necessary in order implement the main principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Georgia'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Today, the first, 2017 report of the Local Self-governance Index was published. According to the Index, important steps have to be taken in municipalities of Georgia to establish high standards in terms of transparency and accountability. Read more… Source:www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International Georgia'' publishes an evaluation of activities carried out by the City Council of the 5th convocation of the Kutaisi City Municipality. ''Performance of the City Council in terms of its supervisory functions is weak. There have never been accountable persons called extraordinarily to attend sittings of the City Council'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a study, in which procedures of asylum denial in Georgia are reviewed. As IDFI notes, ''due to the fact that neither asylum-seekers and nor their defenders possess information about why they have been denied an asylum, they do not enjoy the right of defense and fair trial, which is contrary to the requirements of the Constitution of Georgia''. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) publishes a study – ''Repression beyond borders: citizens exiled from Azerbaijan to Georgia''. The study concerns actions taken by the Azerbaijani Government against civil society and political opposition and their consequences. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) proposes to reveal issues that are actual for the public and to control the government together. ''Share your questions, regarding which you would like to receive information from a certain public institution and to have an analysis prepared'' – 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. On November 14, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), in cooperation with Democracy Reporting International, a German organization, made a presentation of a report regarding a joint project on ''Strengthening political pluralism in Georgia'' (I phase). After the presentation, there were carried out also debates, which aimed at discussing the ways of facilitation of political depolarization in Georgia. Read more... Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. In the document prepared after monitoring the trials and studying the case materials, the Public Defender reviews the procedural shortcomings in the so-called Cyanide Case. In addition, the Public Defender once again reiterates respect for the court and does not assess the case evidence or the defendant’s guilt, which is the competence of the judge. The Public Defender will continue monitoring of the trial of the so-called Cyanide Case in Tbilisi’s Court of Appeal and hopes that other investigations launched by the Prosecutor’s Office into the abovementioned case will be impartial and efficient. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. "Transparency International Georgia” responds to a bill initiated by Roman Gotsiridze, a member of the "United National Movement”, in regard to amendments to be made into the "Law on Broadcasting” (goo.gl/As4XFk). "There is a real danger that in case of adoption of the proposed bill, the Government, based on an obtained authority to approve/disapprove the budget of the Broadcaster, will acquire an additional mechanism to gain influence and put pressure on it” – is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association publishes a summary statement regarding the second round of the 2017 local self-government elections in Georgia. According to the statement, the polling process was mainly carried out in a peaceful environment. The only exception was Khashuri, where an incident took place between supporters of "Georgian Dream”, a political party, and an independent candidate at the end of the day. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The GYLA is releasing the initial results of examination of electoral disputes during the 2017 local self-government elections. ''According to the data we have analyzed, the complaints filed by the GYLA’s observers during the first round – on the polling day and during the post-election period – dealt with the following: processing of personal information of voters by representatives of electoral subjects; inappropriate exercise of rights and violations of lot-casting procedures by members of election commissions; violations related to polling procedures; restriction of observers’ rights'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Runoffs of the 21 October 2017 local self-government elections will be held on November 12, in districts of Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, Borjomi, Khashuri, Martvili and Kazbegi. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) was monitoring the election campaign process in all six districts through its long-term observers (LTOs). ''The monitoring found that the period between the first and the second round of local self-government elections was marked by instances of harassment/intimidation on political grounds and misuse of administrative resources in Ozurgeti, which threaten equal and free pre-election environment'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.isfed.ge