Tbilisi. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), with the support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, is implementing a project "Combating against racism and xenophobia in the field of student migration through strategic litigation”. Within the framework of the project, which aims at reducing racist and xenophobic attitudes in Georgia against foreign national students and promoting changes in legislation and practice through strategic litigation, a legal guide has been prepared. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Coalition for the International Criminal Court releases a special statement related to the investigation of the August 2008 war by the International Criminal Court. "During last days there have been spread a number of statements in regard to both the International Criminal Court investigation of crimes, committed during the August 2008 war, and ongoing processes. Discussions, conducted in Georgia, have clearly demonstrated that the society does not have complete information about these processes and challenges related to them. Based on the above mentioned, with the present statement we, undersigning non-governmental organizations, would like to make certain clarifications in regard to conducted discussions”, - is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:https://gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On November 13 the third International Legal Aid Conference (ILAC 2018) was launched in Tbilisi, Georgia. The event focusing on Global challenges related to ensuring equal access to justice for all and free legal aid for the poor and vulnerable brings together over 300 delegates from over 60 countries to discuss how countries can improve access to legal aid in their unique national contexts and deepen international cooperation in this critical field. The Conference blends expert panel discussions with breakout sessions that enable its participants to work in smaller groups and brainstorm ways to implement reforms in their unique country contexts. In full  Source: http://www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) addresses the Parliament of Georgia with a request to establish a working group in order to review the Code of Administrative Offenses. ''It is important to make sure that the mandate of the working group is not limited to just a decision of the Constitutional Court and activities are carried out towards making substantial changes into the Code of Administrative Offenses. GYLA retains hope that the working group will be established in the nearest future and expresses readiness to actively engage in its activities'', - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more... Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On 13-15 Georgia will host the third International Legal Aid Conference, the event bringing together over 300 delegates from over 60 countries. ''The conference participants will discuss practical solutions in establishing sustainable and institutionalized systems of legal aid, that is crucial for ensuring equal access to justice for all and free legal aid for the poor and vulnerable. Open Society Georgia Foundation is one of the supporters of the conference. Since 2000ies the Foundation has contributed to creation of independent and qualified legal aid service'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: The webpage of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia reviews an amendments to the law of Georgia on Labour Safety. ''According to the legislative initiative, starting from 1 September 201, the law of Georgia on Labour Safety will apply not only to the dangerous, heavy and hazardous labour and labour in dangerous conditions but to all sectors of economic activity,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) states that the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia does not publicize information regarding current reorganization within the system. ''Implementation of large scale HR and structural changes behind closed doors affects reliability of the reorganization process both inside and outside the system. EMC calls on the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia to ensure transparency of the process and to make information regarding the reorganization process available to interested groups.'' Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia reacts to the violent act that took place in Akhalkalaki on 30 October. ''Such incidents in the run up to the second round of the presidential elections could significantly damage the pre-election environment and increase polarization of political processes. It is therefore necessary for this case to be investigated by the law enforcement bodies as promptly as possible'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The largest business deprived during the previous government, which the current government does not return, - this was a subject of discussion at the press conference today. ''Instead of restoring justice, legalization of injustice is done. Different authorities of the government - court, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Economy operate orchestrated aiming at not returning deprived property to their legitimate owners'', - has been said at the press conference. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. To protect from the risk of discrimination, there was conducted a working meeting with judges, organized by "Partnership for Human Rights” (PHR). The purpose of the working meeting was to update judges on information, which would help them avoid discrimination practices during the process of implementation of the judicial efficiency reform. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations have responded to the fact of detention of Zaza Saralidze. According to their statement, the action of Zaza Saralidze is a result of rough and continuous violation of human rights by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. ''It was specifically breach of law by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia that entailed escalation of violence today'', - is noted in the statement released by organizations. Read more... Source: emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Constitutional Court announced its judgment about one of the cases submitted by GYLA in regard to unconstitutional use of the Code of Administrative Offenses to be changed and recognized a number of cases of restriction on submitting a complaint through appellation rules unconstitutional. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association considers the existing model of challenging a member of the High Council of Justice at the interview unconstitutional and submits a constitutional lawsuit to the Constitutional Court on behalf of Ana Dolidze. According to information released by GYLA, subjects of this dispute are those provisions of the Organic Law on General Courts, which give a candidate for judge the right to challenge a member of the High Council due to him/her being nonobjective and bias. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Today GYLA have filed a claim with the Constitutional Court on behalf of Zurab Japaridze to demand that the following eight articles of the Code of Administrative Offences be recognized as unconstitutional: Art.32 – administrative imprisonment Art.33 – general rule for imposing penalties for administrative offences Art.233 – administrative proceedings conducted based on the principle of equality of citizens Art.236 – evidence Art.237 – evaluation of evidence Art.240 – content of a report of administrative offence Art.264 – circumstances to be ascertained during the hearing of administrative offence cases Art.266 – orders issued in administrative proceedings ''The Code of Administrative Offences is the only normative act that remains since the Soviet times and is still effective. Rights of many people are unlawfully restricted on a daily basis by application of the Code. GYLA has been raising the issue of changing the Code since several years. The Constitutional Court’s decision to grant the claim will end the unconstitutional use of the Code of Administrative Resources and will trigger a comprehensive reform of the legislation'', is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. According to the statement of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, so far nobody has been found guilty in the case of torture of Irakli Khoperia by police officers. ''Evidences, collected through investigation, provide sufficient basis to declare police officers guilty. Nevertheless, the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia still does not execute the obligation stipulated by law and does not initiate criminal prosecution against the persons concerned. We call on the Prosecutor's Office to immediately start criminal prosecution in regard to torture committed against Irakli Khoperia and other facts of crime'', - GYLA states. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. An organization "Georgian Democracy Initiative” (GDI) has made a presentation of a report about shortcomings of investigation of ill-treatment facts committed by law enforcement officers and legal status of victims in recent years. The report contains analysis of 48 cases, as well as interrogation results of 9 victims and 132 lawyers that were under supervision of GDI and local non-governmental organizations; study of verdicts recalled from common courts and statistical information received from the Chief Prosecutor's Office. Besides, analysis of reports of the Public Defender of Georgia, international and local non-governmental organizations. The report also includes review of a national legislative framework and international standards existing in this regard; ways of elimination of revealed shortcomings and recommendations. Read more … Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) publishes an appraisal document related to a criminal case of Archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze. The organization points out significant procedural and material-legal shortcomings, which, in general, reveal a problem of violation of the right of Archpriest to fair trial and obviously weak justification of prosecution in the verdict. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. On October 3, 2018, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association presented its 12th monitoring report of criminal cases in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Gori and Telavi courts and Tbilisi and Kutaisi Appellate Courts. ''The monitoring of criminal court trials has shown that a number of issues and legislative gaps observed by both the court and the Prosecutor's Office in the course of implementation of court proceedings have not been addressed yet'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA submitted to the Parliament written opinions regarding a Draft Organic Law on Prosecutor's Office. ''We consider that norms of the proposed bill, in most cases, ensure only formal compliance with the new edition of the Constitution of Georgia, which is not sufficient for a full-fledged reform of the prosecution system'', - is emphasized in the document. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Imereti. According to information of ''Transparency International Georgia'', Zestaponi City Hall does not execute decisions of court. ''City Hall of Zestaponi municipality does not execute decisions of court related to immediate reinstatement of Iamze Marakvelidze and Nino Nikachadze in their positions, which fact represents an action punishable by criminal law and endangers the right to a fair trial guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia'', - 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. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) submitted to the Parliament of Georgia written opinions about bills of Georgia prepared through the authorship of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and initiated by the Government of Georgia. ''GYLA, on the one hand, welcomes the attempt of bringing legislation of Georgia into compliance with a July 30, 2018 decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, however, we consider that certain parts of the composition of norms are unconstitutional due to their unforeseeableness and vagueness, while some of them are not in conformity with the July 30, 2018 decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia'', - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. A presentation of a study regarding necessary number of judges in Georgia is taking place at Courtyard Marriot Hotel. The presentation is attended by Secretary of the High Council of Justice, members, acting Chairperson of the Supreme Court, judges and representatives of donor organizations. According to experts, Georgia requires approximately 410 judges in order to ensure effective review of cases and optimal load of judges. The study was carried out through the joint support of USAID/PROLoG, EU4Justice • judiciary support project and the office of the Council of Europe in Georgia. Full text is available on the website: https://goo.gl/in2oiQ Read more… Source:https://www.facebook.com/EWMIPROLoG