Tbilisi. The Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development has released the results of competition held for the "support of the civil society and free media". The organization's web page indicates that total of 88 projects were submitted, out of which 12 organizations have received funding based on the decision of an independent competition commission.Second stage of the competition will be announced since 1st of April.We would like to remind users that the Institute has organized the competition as part of the project for "Promotion of the Civil Sector and Free Media Development". This project was developed based on the decision ofPresident MikheilSaakashvili, funds for which were allocated from the President's reserve fund. Results of the competition.

Tbilisi. The web portal of CSOs offers to users the subscription to on-line newsletter. Those interested in the information on grant competitions, vacancies or education programs, have an opportunity to subscribe to an online newsletter, which they will receive every Thursday by e-mail, or to get familiar with information on the portal or respective page in the social network on an everyday basis. 

Kvemo Kartli. The exhibition organized by the Soviet Past Research Laboratory – "Lost Story, Memory of Repressed Women” was opened on March 19 in the Rustavi Local History Museum. The exhibition was held in Rustavi at the initiative of the Rustavi Local History Museum and is part of the Museum’s education activities aiming at involving the schoolchildren in the research and rethinking of the Soviet history of Georgia. The exhibition will be open until March 28.Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has echoed the 25 January 2013 order of the Minister of Interior of Georgia. The organization explains that the amendment to this procedure provides an opportunity to appoint or promote a police officer without any preliminary training and relevant testing. "It should be noted that special courses and education programs aim as to raise professional skills and knowledge, as well as to select the professional staff objectively. By putting aside the professional education program and the training courses, the objective preconditions of selection are temporarily revoked, thus increasing the risks of subjective decisions and nepotism", says the organization's web page. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has released a statement on the draft law concerning the sentencing rules. "GYLA believes that the draft law initiated by the Government of Georgia in the Parliament of Georgia requires substantial revision. It is preferable that the draft law is approximated with the initial version of the draft law developed by the Ministry of Justice, which linked the sentencing rule to the categories of crimes", says the statement. GYLA welcomes the trend of liberalization of the criminal policy, but believes that the draft law contains important issues definitely requiring improvement. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released comments on the summoning of the Poti judge to the prosecutor's office. "We consider the problems affecting the justice system for years should not be the basis of gross interference in the judicial authorities.  We believe the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia should drop the case if it does not possess sufficient evidence to prove that the judge had committed a concrete crime", says the organization's web page. For the full text. Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The presentation of tools assisting the persons with disabilities was organized in the wheelchair manufacturing enterprise of the Coalition for Independent Life. The production manufactured as part of the US Government funded project "Wheelchair Production Network of Georgia" was presented, such as the new light electrical wheelchair and the means of sitting correction for the wheelchair users.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. On March 11, the youth organization "Art Way” has held another event in the Batumi Branch of the Union of the Blind. This time the members of the Union of the Blind have listened to the play of Otar Katamadze the "Valley Story”. This activity aimed at integrating the blind into the society through art. The play was read as part of the project "Re-Animation”, which is financially supported by the "East-West Management Institute” (EWMI G-PAC).

Tbilisi. The "Caucasus Research Resources Center” (CRRC) has released the study "Caucasus Barometer 2012”. The study was conducted in November-December 2012 and approximately 2,500 respondents were interviewed Georgia-wide. The study concerns the population’s attitude towards media and television journalists, use and purpose of Internet, citizens’ trust towards religious institutes and the political parties. In addition, the questioning was carried out in Azerbaijan and Armenia also. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, "Transparency International - Georgia" and "Georgian Lawyers for Independent Profession" have released a statement on the judicial reform. The organizations welcome the opinions of the Venice Commission on the draft law developed by the Ministry of Justice, which aims to reform the judicial system in Georgia. "We believe that in light of positions of the Venice Commission and the local NGO sector, there should be a resource for adopting this important draft law through maximum approximation and consensus of positions of the judicial authorities, the government, and parliamentary majority and minority, and not through the regime of harsh confrontation. It is to be hailed that there are certain positive tendencies in this respect and we on our part express readiness to support this process to the extent possible", says the statement. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Coalition "For Independent and Transparent Justice" has echoed the meeting between the Prime Minister of Georgia and the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia KoteKublashvili. "We find this meeting to be positive and think this is a step forward towards the formation of an independent and effective justice system in Georgia", says the statement. The Coalition believes that the judicial system reforms should not be unveiling in the conflicting environment and without the participation of interested parties, as the utmost interest of the public is to form the very impartial and effective court system. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Association of Young Financiers and Businessmen (AFBA) has presented the web page of the Soviet Deposits Research Center. Major purpose of the web page is to collect any materials, expert opinions and information related to the topic of deposits and to inform the public thereof. AFBA is operating a hot line as well.A hot line number: (+995) 0790 10 90 19 Web page:www.anabari.com.ge Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samegrelo. As part of the joint program "Promoting Gender Equality in Georgia" of the UN Women's organization, writer DatoTurashvili has read the play on the topic of violence against women "Awaiting Dodo" on March 6 in the Zugdidi Civic Engagement Center, which was followed by debates with participation of students, NGO representatives and citizens.

Tbilisi. The Coalition for "Independent and Transparent Justice" has released the statement on the recent developments surrounding the courts. The Coalition condemns any action that may jeopardize the impartial administration of justice."The Coalition observes the developments in the judicial system and hopes that as the political entities, as well as public agencies will treat their own actions and statements with respect to the courts with high responsibility and respect", says the statement. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi.The exhibition prepared by the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) - Repressions of 1937-1938: "Stalin Lists" - is now available on the organization's web page. The Exhibition. Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. On the web site of the Public Archive, the Soviet Past Research Laboratory offers the biographies of persons available in the Archive. The biographies will be posted on online archive along with the documents, photo, video and audio materials.The Biographies.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. On February22-23, the workshop was held in the Telavi Media Cafe concerning the presentation of the project "Terror Topography - Soviet Telavi".In addition, the preparatory meeting for the project was held with the interested groups.Irakli Khvadagiani, researcher of the Soviet Past Research Laboratory: "These days we meet with the target group and the population interested in this issue.We would like to set up a group that will obtain the information on Soviet Telavi independently and provide it to us. We hope to see high involvement and with this step these people will preserve history. There are people that are live examples of that period and also the families, whose ancestors were the victims of repressions.""Terror Topography - Soviet Telavi" is a joint project of the Community Development Center and the Soviet Past Research Laboratory.

Tbilisi. The book "Who Owned Georgia in 2003-2012” was presented on February 22 in the bookstore "Ligamus”. A book is a joint work of Transparency International – Georgia and journalist Paul Rimple.The book "tells the stories of businessmen and companies that owned or still own significant shares in sectors such as television broadcasting, communications, advertising market, oil import and distribution, pharmaceutical market and minerals. The book in addition discusses the links of these companies with the representatives of former authorities or persons in close relations with them.” The Book – Who Owned Georgia in 2003-2012. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Soviet Past Research Laboratory has released the documentary "Stories Told Alive – Memories of Repressed Women”. Key heroes of the documentary are women and their families who became victims of mass repressions carried out in Georgia. Stories are told by individuals who went through repressions themselves, as well as their offsprings who know these stories from narration. The documentary was produced as part of the project "Lost Story – Memory of Repressed Women”, with financial support of the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Association of Public Universities.The Film.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Kakheti. The Soviet Past Research Laboratory will hold a preparatory workshop-training on February 21-22 for the project "Terror Topography - Soviet Telavi". Any interested persons can attend, who will continue working on the project throughout the whole year. At the meeting Irakli Khvadagiani will present the experience of the Soviet Past Research Laboratory in recording of oral stories and the archive work. As part of the project, it is planned to develop the Telavi City Tour: Terror Topography - Soviet Telavi.Address: Telavi, Media-Cafe (#4 Erekle II Street, cellar of the Art School).

Kakheti.On February 19, the Association of Providers of Municipal Services has held the public hearing in the Civic Engagement Center on the improvement plan of the waste management services in the Telavi Municipality.Representatives of the local self-government of the Telavi Municipality, NGOs and media and other interested persons have attended the meeting.Collecting the information for an analysis of situation in the waste management field became possible through the statistical data existing locally and the organizational records. In addition, youth groups have interviewed the local population.The improvement plan of the waste management service in the Telavi Municipality was developed as part of the "Local Self-Government Component of the Good Governance in Georgia" Program of the USAID, with assistance of the Association of Providers of Municipal Services.

Tbilisi. With the support of "Open Society – Georgia" Foundation and the Georgian Harm Reduction Network, the Studio "Idealist" and the Association of Young Psychologists and Physicians "Xenon" will organize the exhibition titled "Fathom My Condition", which will open up in one ordinary brick house. Each room will depict the life of one lady. Photos taken by 4 anonymous females addicted to drugs, their personal items, letters, etc. will be presented at the event.The exhibition will open on February 20, at 19:00 in Tbilisi, #9 Mtskheta Street, and will run including February 22. Source: osfg.ge