Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information published a research - "Access to Information Rating at Georgian State Universities". "From the 190 request sent, IDFI received complete responses on 96 requests. In 24 instances information sent to us was not complete, while in 28 cases universities either refused to provide us with the information or failed to respond to the requests. In 42 cases universities informed the Institute that either they did not possess the information requested or that the given action had not been conducted by the university". For the full text Source: idfi.ge  

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Representatives of the Tolerance and Diversity Institute have met on October 26 with the population of villages Chela and Mokhe of the Adigeni Municipality. "Persons detained during dismantling of the Mosque on October 22 noted that the Ministry of Interior staff have used disproportionate force against Muslims who were protesting against the building’s destruction. ... Other eyewitnesses also confirm violence shown by the police. Currently the construction in village Mokhe is suspended. Local Christian population claims they will not allow the construction of the Mosque in the village center”, the organization’s page says. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Third elections to the Academic Council of the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University were held on October 21. Polls were organized at seven election precincts. Two candidates from each faculty were elected as members of the Academic Council, total of 14 members. Representatives of the Election Environment Development Center have monitored the election process and the Center's observers have assessed the process positively. For the full text. Source: eedc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy has released the final 2014 self-government election monitoring report on October 17. The organization was involved in pre-election, as well as the polling day and following period monitoring process. Final report released by ISFED examines in detail all facts preceding the 2014 local self-government elections, as well as analyzes all positive or negative processes having impact on the course of elections or its results... For the full text... The report Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information published information about Georgian Parliament Renovation Costs. "In September 2014 IDFI has addressed the Parliament of Georgia with a request concerning detailed costs incurred on renovation and equipment of the Parliament building in Tbilisi. In response to the request the parliament has provided complete information.As we learn from the received documents, total renovation and equipment costs of the new parliament building amount to 22 732 346 GEL. Out of the total amount spent on renovation and equipment of the parliament the biggest part of purchases amounting to 16 479 613 GEL, was made via simplified purchase method (negotiation with one person). Purchases for 5 656 468 GEL were made via electronic tender, 410 265 GEL was spent via simplified electronic tender, while 186 000 GEL – through competition". For the full text Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Sachkhere, Kharagauli, Terjola and Tkibuli Municipal Boards and Municipal Councils. The organization has posted on Opendata.ge the information on bonuses, representative expenses and other documents. Information about Sachkhere Municipal Board and Sachkhere Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Kharagauli  Municipal Board and Kharagauli Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Terjola Municipal Board and Terjola Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Tkibuli Municipal Board and Tkibuli Municipal Council (geo)... Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Samtredia, Zestafoni, Chiatura and Tskaltubo Municipal Boards and Municipal Councils. The organization has posted on Opendata.ge the information on bonuses, representative expenses and other documents. Information about Samtredia Municipal Board and Samtredia  Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Zestafoni Municipal Board and Zestafoni  Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Chiatura Municipal Board and Chiatura  Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Tskaltubo Municipal Board and Tskaltubo Municipal Council (geo)... Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Vani, Bagdati and Khoni Municipal Boards and Municipal Councils, also from Kutaisi City Hall and Kutaisi City Council. The organization has posted on Opendata.ge the information on bonuses, representative expenses and other documents. Information about Vani Municipal Board and Vani Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Bagdati Municipal Board and Bagdati Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Khoni Municipal Board and Khoni Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Kutaisi City hall and Kutaisi City Council (geo)... Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released analytical blog post "Violations associated with submission of property declarations of the officials". For the full text. Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) continues posting various pieces of public information obtained from the local self-government authorities of Georgia on www.opendata.ge (public information data base).This time the Institute has released information provided by the local authorities of Shida Kartli. For the full text Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information published a report - "Access to Public Information in LEPLs and State Sub-Agencies in Georgia - Report of 2013-2014". "At this stage we present the report on the Access to Public Information in legal entities of public law, state sub-agencies and other public entities (80 public entities in all) for the period of October 2013 – July 2014.During the period of October 2013 – July 2014 IDFI has referred to 61 LEPLs and state sub-agencies, with 1009 FOI requests". For the full text Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information published E-Participation Guidebook. "Over the last decades, internet technologies established new forms of communication between citizens and public institutions. E-Governance is based on spreading information electronically and using communication tools for governance. It implies creating online platforms and websites, which includes information about government activities, planning and implementing state budget, vacancies, important issues and news. Government informs citizens and creates environment for mutual interaction, which results in increased civic participation". For the full text Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia regularly researches the property status of state officials. This time, based on the property declarations the organization informs public about bank loans taken by the ministries and their deputies. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Kobuleti, Shuakhevi, Khelvachauri and Khulo Municipal Boards and Municipal Councils. The organization has posted on Opendata.ge the information on bonuses, representative expenses and other documents. Information about Kobuleti Municipal Board and Aspindza Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Shuakhevi Municipal Board and Ninotsminda Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Khelvachauri Municipal Board and Borjomi Municipal Council (geo)... Information about Khulo Municipal Board and Borjomi Municipal Council (geo)... Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi. On September 8, ISFED has requested information about persons dismissed from offices subordinate to the City Hall from August 1 through September 7, 2014."According to the provided information, from August 1 through September 7, 2014 total of 155 persons were dismissed from the Tbilisi City Hall. Out of these, 115 - based on personal application, 32 - due to expiry of the term; 5 - due to disciplinary liability; 3 - due to other grounds", says the statement released by the organization. For the full text. Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information publicized various kind of public information submitted by self-governmental bodies of Kvemo Kartli region to IDFI.The published information concerns quantities of bonuses, expenses, emergency purchases, replaced vehicles and so on provided in the city hall/municipalities in Kvemo Kartli region in 2013. For the full text…    Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Gamgeobas and Sakrebulos of the Gori and Gardabani Municipalities. At Opendata.ge the organization has posted information on the bonuses, audit acts, budget fulfillment reports and other documents. Information from the Gori Municipality Gamgeoba and Sakrebulo (geo) Information from the Gardabani Municipality Gamgeoba and Sakrebulo (geo) Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi. "Transparency International - Georgia" published MPs declaration analysis. The organization "periodically publishes information about the condition of the asset. This time, we collected information about the cars owned by MPs and members of their families on basis of their property declarations”. For the full text Source:transparency.ge  

Tbilisi. Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) in the framework of The East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) Policy, Advocacy, and Civil Society Development in Georgia (G-PAC) Program published a study of Religious Discrimination and Constitutional Secularism. For the full text Source: tdigeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released information obtained from the Gamgeobas and Sakrebulos of the Kaspi and Khashuri Municipalities. At Opendata.ge the organization has posted information on the bonuses, audit acts, budget fulfillment reports and other documents. Information from the Kaspi Municipality Gamgeoba and Sakrebulo (geo) Information from the Khashuri Municipality Gamgeoba and Sakrebulo (geo) Source: opendata.ge

Tbilisi. The "Study on Religious Discrimination and Constitutional Secularism" was presented on September 8 in the "Frontline Georgia Club".The study includes the analysis of offences committed based on religious discrimination in Georgia, legal framework on freedom of religion and the state practice; further, it reviews the rhetoric of politicians with respect to principles of secularism. The study was carried out by the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI) as part of the "Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia" Program (G-PAC) of the East-West Management Institute (EWMI), with financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has released a blog post: "Agreement between the Tbilisi City Hall and "CT-Park" LLC: Secret Details until Now". "As the agreement publicized by the decision of the Tbilisi's new Government demonstrates, dozens of various articles and sub-paragraphs of the agreement and its annexes, a big portion of annexes and three amendments to the agreement were considered as commercial secret. For the details of the agreement classified until now, please see ... the blog", says the organization's web page. For the full text. Source: opendatablog.wordpress.com