Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia presents interim monitoring report of Georgian Public Broadcaster, which focuses on the working condition at GPB.  ''Georgian Public Broadcaster adopted new organizational structure and plans staff certification. The report highlights challenges that accompany the ongoing reorganization process at the Broadcaster. Regardless persistent challenges GPB journalists enjoy higher degree of editorial independence. Prior 2012 there were cases of outside influence on the reporting of the Broadcaster, which does not happen now. Effective communication between management and staff remains a problem. Staff is not duly informed about ongoing processes including the reorganization'', is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. ''Open Society Georgia Foundation'' has published policy documents, which evaluate steps made by the state towards fulfilment of obligations committed through the Association Agreement with the European Union. Policy documents are about justice, fight against corruption, and torture and brutal treatment issues. The aim of the meeting is to promote those themes, which require an immediate response during the Association Agreement implementation process. Documents are prepared by the ''Georgian Young Lawyers' Association'', ''Penal Reform International'' and ''Transparency International-Georgia''. In full... Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes "Global Corruption Barometer” survey results. "According to the Global Corruption Barometer survey, conducted in 2016, 58% of respondents in Georgia had a contact with at least one of the 8 public service spheres. 7% of them had to pay a bribe in order to receive a public service” – is stated on the website of the organization. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia publishes a blogpost: ''Non-payroll employees and a certification process at the National Communications Commission''. ''The practice of appointment of non-payroll employees at the Commission does not correspond to the principles of activities of non-payroll servants at public service. Non-payroll employees perform temporary, clearly defined tasks at public service, while at the Commission, their activities do not differ from those of regular staff'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International – Georgia'' publishes a blog post: ''Family members of officials in a public service''. ''''Transparency International – Georgia'' studied property declarations of officials and revealed instances, where family members of officials were employed in the same or its affiliate administrative bodies...'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full… Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) organized an action, demanding an effective labor inspection. "The labor inspection is an institution, which at least can save a person, which at least can allow people to live in a relatively normal environment. We are talking about the labor inspection and not about a technical supervision bureau” – is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. In full… Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association publishes a video clip – "What is bribing voters?” Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations release an appeal and demand the facts of obstruction of observers to be responded. ''Observer Organizations are concerned regarding the facts of obstruction of observers and their both verbal and physical abuse on October 8, the day of voting of the parliamentary elections. We call on relevant authorities to respond promptly and to conduct effective investigation in order to identify individuals, participating into the violent incidents, and to prosecute them'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Layers’ Association (GYLA) publishes a blog post regarding possible risks of increased funding. ''Issues related to transparency and accountability of LEPLs and N(N)LEs are still a significant problem, which fact is also confirmed by the information of the State Audit Office, reflected in the draft state budget for the year 2017. On this background, the increase of funding further strengthens an opinion regarding possible irrational expenditure of public finances...'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia has presented another information bulletin about the efforts of the Public Defender’s Office. ''The bulletin offers information concerning the project Monitoring of Human Rights Violations in the Pre-election Period and describes the activities of the task forces, court monitors and coordinators that were working within the framework of the project. It also reviews the meetings held by the Public Defender's Office for promoting the project. … The report provides information about the special report on the security and socio-economic rights situation of the people living along the dividing line of Samegrelo and Abkhazia, meetings of the consultative councils, meetings and international visits of the Public Defender and his deputies'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) deployed 400 observers to monitor October 8 Parliamentary elections. Our static observers covered 300 precincts throughout the country. In addition, 52 mobile groups were mobilized to observe the elections. ''In general, polling process was held in a peaceful atmosphere, except Marneuli and Zugdidi cases. Majority of the polling stations were opened and closed on time. Voting and counting process was carried out without any significant deficiencies. Our observers detected up to 80 relatively serious, mostly procedural violations. Throughout the day, we filed 10 complaints'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) appraises the polling day of the October 8, 2016, parliamentary elections. ''The voting process was conducted in a peaceful environment in general, however significant violations were encountered at certain polling stations'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The EU has been following electoral process in Georgia closely, including the results of the preliminary official vote count, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn said in a joint statement on Sunday. ''The calm and open campaign atmosphere was, however, impacted by allegations of unlawful campaigning and some incidents of violence. Election Day generally proceeded in an orderly manner, but tensions increased during the day and several violent altercations took place near and in polling stations. However, voting was assessed positively in almost all polling stations'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: civil.ge

Tbilisi. Parliamentary elections in Georgia on October 8 "were competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected,” OSCE/ODIHR-led international election observation mission said in its preliminary conclusions on Sunday. While opening and voting were assessed ''positively'' in almost all polling stations, the international observers said that the ballot counting process was ''assessed markedly worse'' with 31 percent of counts assessed as ''bad or very bad''. In full… Source: civil.ge

Tbilisi. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) is monitoring the October 8, 2016 Parliamentary Elections in all electoral districts around Georgia. Final turnout was 52.9% with a margin of error of +/-0.9% that is lower than the 2012 parliamentary election when turnout was 60.9%. In 97.9% of polling stations the counting process was without any major incidents, which is not statistically significantly different from either the 2012 parliamentary election or the 2014 election. At 99.7% of polling stations, the procedures for sealing the documentation were followed according to the law, before the materials were delivered to the district. This election is better than both the 2012 parliamentary election (99.5%) and the 2014 local election (99.0%),” is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender Echoes Incidents Occurring during Vote Counting. ''Ineffective response to the incidents of Zugdidi, Kortskheli and Didinedzi in the recent period may be one of the causes for the wave of violent acts that are taking place tonight. Similar information casts a shadow on the overall election process. Prevention of future, greater damage will be possible only if the law enforcement system manages to defuse tension at the very beginning and ensure adequate and fastest response to the occurring incidents'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On October 7 Non-governmental organizations: Transparency International Georgia, GYLA and ISFED presented ''Georgian Parliamentary Elections of October 8, 2016 Assessment of the Pre-election Environment''. In full… Source: .gyla.ge

Tbilisi. October 6, 2016 - Transparency International Georgia presents a new report assessing the state of play of political party finances in Georgia. The reporting period is January 1 - September 1, 2016. The report makes a special emphasis on donations of political parties. For the full text.. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information requested from the Parliament information about video penalties charged to state automobiles that were transferred to members of the Parliament in temporary ownership. According to information received, "in 2012-2016 years, while using vehicles, which were on the balance of the apparatus, in total 63 video penalties were charged to vehicles of 34 deputies. Highest number of video penalties - 27 was registered in 2013. The statistics of other years are as follows: 2012 - 18, 2014 - 8, 2015 - 7, 2016 (6 months) - 3 penalties”. In full…    Source:opendata.ge

Tbilisi. On 13 and 30 September, 2016, the Department of Gender Equality of the Public Defender's Office carried out monitoring of Tbilisi’s service facilities (shelters) of victims of trafficking and domestic violence that are administered by the State Fund of Protection and Assistance of Victims of Human Trafficking. ''The initial results of the monitoring show that there is a favorable environment in the shelter for the victims of both domestic violence and trafficking. The beneficiaries positively evaluated the service delivered to them and their treatment. However, a number of issues were revealed that need improvement'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia publishes a blogpost: ''4-year performance appraisal of the eighth Parliament''. ''According to our appraisal, the eighth Parliament, in comparison with the preceding one, was more pluralistic, which fact was also conditioned by significant number of represented opposition. There were a lot of thematic discussions at parliamentary sessions. The level of openness and transparency of the legislative body increased too, however significant steps still need to be taken in this regard'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full… Source:www.transparency.ge