Tbilisi. On July 14, a presentation of a joint study, conducted by the ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) and the ''Tolerance and Diversity Institute'' (TDI), was held at the club ''Frontline Georgia''. The study included a review of practices of funding religious organizations for the years 2014-2015 and a legal assessment. In full… Source:The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. "Transparency International – Georgia” continues the monitoring of local self – government activities. "This time we have got interested in how many factions are operational in Kakheti municipalities since the 2014 local self – government elections and how effectively they work.  Information reflected in the survey covers the period from the establishment of a faction through May, 2016" – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On July 8, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association made a presentation of a research - ''Driving around the Earth'' for the media. ''The presentation included information about the quantity of fuel, consumed by the regional administration of Mtskheta-Mtianeti and self-governments of mentioned region (except Kazbegi) for work purposes during the year 2015'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters (GARB) publishes a video-review of a media-conference that takes place in Tbilisi under the auspices of the OSCE. The conference has mainly dealt with the following topics: ''what challenges do exist in the media of the South Caucasus countries and what are the trends existing in social networks''. In full… Source:garb.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International – Georgia'' has been involved in the process related to Gonio lands and continuously monitors developments around this issue. ''We urge the Commission for Recognition of Property Rights on plots of land, occupied without authorization on the territory of the municipality of Batumi City, to study individually the issues of 271 citizens, involved in administrative proceedings, and to explain in writing the grounds for taken decision to each of them; to make a decision after full and thorough investigation of disputable relation, in full compliance with the law'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) together with six Georgian non-governmental organizations has been named among financially the most transparent analytical organizations worldwide. IDFI congratulates all partner organizations, which have obtained 5 (highest) points during the evaluation of financial transparency of 200 organizations from 47 countries. In full… Source: The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The US Agency for International Development has published an annual Civil Society Organizations Development Index (2015), where the attention is paid to various aspects of an environment, sustainability and development of Civil Society Organizations. The index for Central and Eastern Europe, as well as for Eurasia covers also the study regarding organizations, operating in Georgia. In full… Source:usaid.gov

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) begins pre-election monitoring and addresses to representatives of the media and non-governmental organizations. ''To support conducting free and fair elections, the organization performs monitoring of the next parliamentary elections in the current year as well. At this stage GYLA observes a pre-election environment and carrying out of a pre-election campaign throughout the country. Violations, revealed during the monitoring, will be reflected in a joint report, prepared by GYLA'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization in a social network. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative publishes a Human Rights Information Bulletin for the month of May. It includes a review of the changes into the legislation related to the Constitutional Court and the conclusion of the Venice Commission regarding above-mentioned issue, etc. Bulletin… Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy publishes a pre-election assessment. It includes analysis of the situation in terms of the legislation, activities of the election administration, political and media pluralism. Assessment... Source The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blogpost: "Report of factions of the council at municipalities of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara”. ''Following to the study, it can be said that in a lot of cases creation of factions has a particular purpose to obtain funds from the budget as a work remuneration. Activities of council members, except those of council officials, are not payable, therefor in most of the cases the basis for creation of factions is a work remuneration ...'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On June 14, at the Marriot hotel, three non-governmental organizations, ''Transparency International – Georgia'', the ''Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association'' and the ''Media Development Foundation'' presented studies regarding current situation on an advertising market. Researchers of the organizations talked about international audit standards of television ratings measuring companies and presented data regarding a practice of allocation of budgetary resources to the media for the purpose of advertising and disseminating information. The presentations were followed by a discussion. Source: The web-page of the Transparency in a social network

Tbilisi. On June 14, The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) made a presentation of a study: ''Tax control of television ratings measuring companies: legal framework of Georgia and international standards''. The study includes a review of current legislation of Georgia, which regulates tax control of television ratings measuring companies. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On June 13, the Public Defender presented a chapter of the 2015 parliamentary report regarding the rights of persons with disabilities to representatives of government agencies, international organizations and non-governmental sector. In full… Source:ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 13, the organization "Article 42 of the Constitution” held a press conference, which was related to the 13-14 June disaster midterm monitoring report. At the press conference lawyers of the organization presented a monitoring of expenditure of funds, donated and allocated for the disaster. They also discussed those legal shortcomings, which were revealed during the disaster and response activities. In full… Source: The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On June 10, the Association of Young Financiers and Businessmen held a briefing, the focus of which was an investment environment. Representatives of the organization consider that the investment environment of Georgia becomes more and more attractive. "... In the first quarter of 2016, the amount of investments made in Georgia summed up to 376 million dollars, which is 103% higher in comparison with the same period of the previous year. It should be noted that the data of current year is the maximum within last 7 years and it yields only to the data of the year 2008. ... " In full… Source: The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On June 8, the Parliament of Georgia adopted, through the second reading, a package of bills, which aimed at changing certain electoral issues. One of the changes was about a new rule for allotment of free pre-election advertising to electoral subjects. Transparency International Georgia releases a blog regarding the mentioned issue. According to the organization, "... it is clear that the previous rule for allotment of free airtime for advertising is unfair and unconstitutional, however the new rule also contains significant problems. ... " In full… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On June 8, Transparency International Georgia publish new report: "Budgeting in the Judicial System 2011-2015”. This report aims to improve budget planning in the Georgian judicial system, which, we believe, will help advance the system. In fill… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. ''Transparency International – Georgia'' continues researching the processes developed at non-profit (non-commercial) legal entities of municipalities. This time the organization overviews current situation at legal entities founded by the municipalities of Kvemo Kartli. ''Public information requested from the municipalities of Kvemo Kartli relates to the number of employed and to the amount of monthly wages to be paid at legal entities by May 1, 2014 and February 29, 2016'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. IDFI decided to look into the specific tender brought to our attention and to extend our investigation to other tenders for purchasing tickets for TLG. ''On July 9, 2015, the TPDC announced a tender (SPA150019160) for purchasing 11 one-way economy class airline tickets with a total cost of GEL 62,000. Bidding registration for suppliers was open between July 25-30, 2015. The tender ended with a single bidder - Discovery Ltd. The first problem we discovered with the tender was its assigned procurement category. Instead of the more appropriate category of ‘travel agencies, tour operators and tourist assistance services’ (CPV 63500000), the TPDC had assigned its tender the category of ‘miscellaneous transport equipment and spare parts’ (CPV 34900000). This resulted in potential suppliers being unable to find and participate in the tender since airline ticket operator companies would not be looking for tenders in such a category,'' is noted in the statement. In full… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On 16 – 28 March, 2016, ''Transparency International – Georgia'' conducted a public opinion survey throughout the country. ''The most important health care related findings of the survey are as follows: health insurance: the part of the population that is ready to share financial responsibility with the state has increased by 10 percentage points in comparison with the year 2015, in particular, 56% of the population charge with the health care financial responsibility not only the state but themselves too, which figure, as the respective analysis determines, equals to at least 2.5 million citizens of Georgia'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:www.transparency.ge