Tbilisi. On December 19, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation has presented the new project – Partnership for Transparent Budget: Civil Monitoring of State Expenses in Georgia. This project aims to improve transparency of the country's budget and increase accountability on the spending of state funds. The Eurasia Partnership Foundation has started implementing the EU-funded project on 1 November 2014. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The National Preventive Mechanism published report on a Visit to the Penitentiary Establishment N3 and Report on a Visit to the Penitentiary Department N2 in Kutaisi. Report on a Visit to the Penitentiary Establishment N3 Report on a Visit to the Penitentiary Department N2 in Kutaisi Source: ombudsman.ge  

Tbilisi. In relation to the International Day against Corruption, from 3 to 9 December, "Transparency International – Georgia" has organized an anti-corruption week, during which the organization's new reports were presented and discussions were organized. The Week aimed to present concrete recommendations developed based on the organization's findings, targeted towards increasing the accountability of state institutions and improving the country's anti-corruption policy. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. "Transparency International - Georgia" has released the analysis and recommendations of the draft 2015 state budget. "In the overview we analyze the priorities, projected revenues and expenses of the submitted draft. The analysis focuses on problems of concern, including the lesson offered to the Government by serious problems identified during the fulfillment of the 2014 state budget over 10 months with respect to revenues as well as expenses", the organization's page states. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has organized the conference – "Challenges of Georgia's Anti-Corruption Policy". At the event the organization has presented a general overview of the country's national anti-corruption system and focused on the achievements and weaknesses of Georgia's anti-corruption policy. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) is implementing monitoring of bodies of local self-government in all self-governing communities and cities of Georgia by means of 73 observers. ISFED requested access to public information regarding staff changes in self-government agencies throughout Georgia for the period from July 1 through October 1, 2014. For the full text Source: isfed.ge  

Freedom House published the fifth annual comprehensive study of internet freedom around the globe, covering developments in 65 countries that occurred between May 2013 and May 2014 –finds internet freedom around the world in decline for the fourth consecutive year, with 36 out of 65 countries assessed in the report experiencing a negative trajectory during the coverage period. The study Source: freedomhouse.org  

Georgia is ranked 50th among 175 countries with the score of 52 (out of the maximum 100) in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by the Transparency International Secretariat today. "the corruption perception level has remained stable in Georgia over the last three years and there has been no significant progress or backslide during this period of time". For the full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "Young Barristers" has presented to the public a study and recommendations on the legal status of the Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani monument. The organization has carried out the study over two months with participation of Young Barristers' legal group. For the full text (geo) Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Council that was formed at the Public Defender of Georgia completed its work on documenting facts of the events that developed during a special operation conducted in the Lopota Gorge, near the village of Lapankuri, on August 28-29, 2012. The council also prepared a report of its work. For the full text Source: ombudman.ge  

Tbilisi. On November 28, the Women's Information Center has presented media monitoring results of the project - "Women as Actors for Changes and Empowerment". Monitoring was carried out throughout the period of 2014 local self-government elections. After the presentation, the award ceremony of media representatives has taken place. Prizes were given to media outlets and journalists, who have paid special attention to the coverage of gender issues. For the full text Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Public Defender’s Office will monitor a rally organized by the "United National Movement” that is scheduled for November 15, in Tbilisi. During the demonstration, five mobile groups consisting of representatives of the Public Defender’s Office will be monitoring possible facts of human rights violation that will be given relevant response after appropriate examination. For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge  

Tbilisi. On November 13, CSO Public Movement Multinational Georgia has presented a final report on the monitoring program of 2014 local representative and executive authorities. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released a summary review of public information received from the state trustees in various regions – the governor's administrations. In addition to the summary, separate pieces of this information are available at www.opendata.ge. For the full text. Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has presented the monitoring report on pre-election environment, polling day and the post-election period. The report covers monitoring results for the period of 1 April - 22 July, 2014. The report reflects violations identified and reported during the pre-election campaign period, as well as the polling day and summary of results. Further, the report provides concrete recommendations. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Media Development Foundation has presented on November 6 preliminary results of study on media funded from the state budget. According to media.ge, in the Foundation's opinion, "funding of eight news information agencies by the state from the budget and provision of information to them in advance puts other information agencies in unequal conditions, especially when the public information must be equally accessible to all". For the full text. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information released a blog post - "The Number of Motions on Secret Surveillance Has Decreased”. "Based on the information received by IDFI as well as that published by The Supreme Court we can conclude that in 2014, as compared to previous years, the number of motions made to courts on secret surveillance has significantly decreased. For instance, only in case of Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office Tbilisi City Court received 1795 motions on telephone surveillance in 2011, 5951 - in 2012 and 1400 motions in the first 5 months of 2013. However, Tbilisi City Court received only 952 motions from all the investigative entities during 9 months in 2014. The statistics also reveal that the percentage of granted motions has decreased, while 99.86% of motions were granted in 2011, the courts satisfied only 86.03% of the motions in 2014". For the full text Source: idfi.ge  

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia continues inquiring into "the appointment by the Ministry of Interior of its employees, the so-called "ODRs", in the state and other organizations". "During the Soviet times the Security Ministry used to appoint "ODRs" in various agencies. During the rule of Eduard Shevardnadze and Mikheil Saakashvili this practice was maintained and is practiced by the "Georgian Dream" after the 2012 parliamentary elections as well. In previous blog posts we were reporting about the employees working in the Georgian National Communications Commission and the Security Officers Unit of the Ministry of Interior. This time we would like to present information on additional three officers serving in other public institutions", says the blog posted on the organization's web page. For the full text Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has released information titled: "Number of servants held liable for illegal wiretapping still unknown". In 2014, IDFI has approached the Ministries of Justice, Finance, Defense and Interior and requested information on the number of cases in 2009-2014, in which investigation had been launched based on the breaches of private communication secret, private correspondence, telephone conversation or any other form of notification. The Institute has released information received from the Ministries. For the full text Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Batumi City Hall and the Sakrebulo (city council). The organization has posted on Opendata.ge the information on the bonuses, representative expenses and other documents. Informationfrom the Batumi City Hall and City Council Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi. The Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) has released the analysis of developments in village Mokhe. "In October 2014 the Adigeni Municipality has witnessed another confrontation on religious grounds between the local Muslims and law-enforcement agencies and the gross violations of the Muslims' rights. The Ministry of Interior staff have dismissed a rally, at which local Muslims were protesting against dismantling of a mosque - currently disputed building - with violent methods. Eye-witnesses claim that law-enforcers were physically and verbally insulting the Muslims ...", the organization's web page states. For the full text Source: tdigeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the administrations of the Imereti, Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti Governors. The organization has posted on Opendata.ge information on the bonuses, representative expenses and other documents. Information from the Imereti Governor's administration. Information from the Shida Kartli Governor's administration. Information from the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Governor's administration. Source: opendata.ge