Tbilisi. On July 6, 2023, the training program "Disinformation and Propaganda Studies: History, Theories and Ways of Debunking continues", created within the framework of cooperation between the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the University of Georgia (UG), was completed, and the participants of the training course were awarded certificates. “A total of 24 participants representing various universities, media outlets, civil organizations, and public institutions were involved in the 2022-2023 training program. Throughout the academic year, students were introduced to six courses, which included Principles of Strategy in Cyber Security; Identifying and Researching Disinformation; Disinformation and Society; Collective memory of nations and its role in Georgian politics and international relations; Archives, Facts, and Media, Strategic thinking”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. According to the study conducted by UNICEF on the cost of raising children with disabilities in Georgia, the cost of the required goods and services for the equal participation of children with disabilities is beyond the reach of most families in Georgia. Read more… Source: www.unicef.org

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Transparency International Georgia has studied the public procurements won by Megobroba-5 LLC – the company of Martin Gabrielyani, the Director of a municipal NNLE – in the Akhalkalaki Municipality.   “Since the publication of our study, the State Procurement Agency has established more than 20 violations in these procurements and sent the administrative offense report to the Tbilisi City Court.  The Court gave a verbal warning to members of the tendering commission of the Akhalkalaki City Hall”. See the details of the study here… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Parliament of Georgia passed the bill on Personal Data Protection in three readings, initiated back in 2019. The discussion on the draft law resumed in the Parliament of the 10th Convocation in December 2022. The law encompasses a multitude of cutting-edge advancements in line with the best international standards for personal data protection. Its execution will be carried out gradually. See the 8 amendments that the new law on personal data envisage… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. According to the Georgia Young Lawyers Association, 2 years have passed since the events of July 5-6, 2021, however, until now not all the episodes of possible crime actions have been properly investigated. “Nowadays, it is clear that, despite the punishment of certain perpetrators, the agency in charge of criminal proceedings does not have the necessary will to punish the organizer of violence actions, the leader or the persons who publicly incited to violent acts. It is true that the investigation, among others, is going against the organizers of violence, however, it is not all-round, objective and properly effective, due to the focus of the investigation and not bringing charges to specific persons.  GYLA believes that the victims have been artificially limited the access to the materials obtained by the investigation in the respect of organizers, leaders or the persons who publicly incited to the violent acts”. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Social Justice Center publishes the document: Politics of Crime Prevention in Georgia. “Crime prevention has a significant role in the life of a society. Its function is the creation of a safe and secure environment for people. Effective crime prevention policy contributes to avoidance of crime and victimization, also development of strong and vibrant communities. The present document studies crime prevention politics in Georgia. The document aims to assess how robust the steps taken by appropriate authorities are for changing the established practices of prevention and for their improvement”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Samegrelo. According to the Transparency International Georgia "Road Plus" LLC and "Building Group 17" LLC, which are connected to Zaza Antia, a friend and classmate of Zugdidi Mayor Mamuka Tsotseria and Deputy State Trustee in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, Davit Kukhaleishvili, are being awarded local procurement contracts. “Since 2018, companies have been awarded tenders amounting to 22,108,948 GEL. Within this sum, Zugdidi City Hall has made purchases worth 12,129,286 GEL”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Good news for Georgia – the EU’s Erasmus+ activities are increasing! From 2024, Georgian organisations will be able to participate in international cooperation projects in Erasmus+ Programme countries in the fields of youth and sport. Keep an eye out for new opportunities here for the Youth... and sport... Source: The EU’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Georgian translation of the European Commission’s Guidelines on tackling #disinformation and promoting digital literacy through education and training, made possible through the EU Delegation efforts, is now available online. Primary and secondary level teachers and educators, as well as other interested persons, can now access the electronic version of the Georgian Guidelines… Read more… English originals can be viewed here… Source: EU’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On June 22-23, 2023, the 9th annual conference of the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) - "New Frontiers: The South Caucasus Amidst New Challenges" was held. “At the aforementioned conference, during the round table discussion titled "Archival accessibility and openness in the Caucasus and Eurasia," Anton Vatcharadze, the head of the memory and disinformation studies department at the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), presented a report. In his report, he focused on the new law on "personal data protection" and the publicity surrounding the standards”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships, and tenders for civil society organizations, and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. Under the leadership of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, 8 civil society organizations presented the fourth edition of an assessment document – EU CANDIDACY CHECK, which reflects the progress achieved by the Georgian authorities in this context until the period of June 15, 2023, as well as the current state of play and the steps to be implemented in the future. “According to CSOs’ assessments, at this stage, one priority is fully implemented, two priorities are mostly fulfilled, five priorities are partially fulfilled, and four priorities defined by the European Union are to be fulfilled”. Read more… Source: osgf.ge

Adjara. The Batumi New Mosque Construction Fund, the Tolerance and Diversity Institute, and Social Justice Center release a statement regarding the case of the Batumi new mosque. “A court action commenced in 2017 for a permit to construct a new mosque in the city of Batumi continues, as the Supreme Court of Georgia recently returned the case to the Court of Appeal for its reconsideration. The legitimate request for the permit stems from the long-standing needs of the Muslim community, and the issue remains unsolved. The decision of the Supreme Court contains a number of problematic elements, which not only hinder the realization of the fundamental rights of Muslims but also could lead to the undermining of the general principles of the right to freedom of religion and equality under the law. The court action, which has dragged on for seven years, is now prolonged indefinitely by this latest decision, grossly violating the rights of the Muslim community and threatening the essential principle of speedy and effective justice. The government’s gross violation of the fundamental rights of Muslims has a continuous character. For years, Muslims have been unable to build a place of worship in Batumi due to illegal barriers created by the government, and they still have to gather and pray in the open air. The government used all the means available to it to prevent the case from being decided on time and delayed the case for 7 years by appealing to the courts. The decision of the Supreme Court contributes both to the prolongation of the process and to the continuation of the systematic violation of Muslim rights”. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition condemns the physical attack on Misha Mshvildadze, the co-founder and anchor of Formula TV. "Attacks on media representatives in the country remain a serious challenge. The lack of action from the government regarding crimes against journalists, coupled with their hostile rhetoric towards critical voices and dissemination of targeted disinformation, only serves to further encourage such acts". Media Advocacy Coalition urgently calls upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this attack on Misha Mshvildadze. It is crucial that those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Read more… Source: mediacoalition.ge

Regions. IDFI held three days of training sessions in Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, and Zugdidi from June 21 to 23 on practical methods and techniques for monitoring government activities. The training was intended for local civil society organizations, activists, journalists, and students. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. According to the TI Georgia, for the first time in 20 years, the Government of Georgia opted out of participating in the monitoring round of the OECD's Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (OECD/ACN). Georgia is the only country that did not endorse the monitoring, unlike Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia. “The signatory organizations call on the Government of Georgia to resume participation in the monitoring process initiated under the Istanbul Action Plan (IAP) program and to continue cooperation with the OECD's Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (OECD/ACN)”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Batumi. On June 21-22 CSI organized a kickoff event of the project Strengthening Civic Engagement and Participatory Governance Capacities in Local Governments The event was attended by the 20 representatives of the public city halls and councils of four target municipalities (Batumi, Chokhatauri, Marneuli and Dmanisi). The project aims at enhancing the capacity of four partner municipalities to routinely monitor and evaluate public participation in local decision-making processes. თhe kickoff participants got familiarized themselves with CSI’s web-based “Benchmarking Methodology” tool which will help local authorities to recognize the importance of self-assessment and strive towards improving relationships with and strengthening trust among the communities they are to serve. The participants from different municipalities shared their experience and challenges regarding citizen engagement with each other and planned next steps on how to proceed with the upcoming self-assessment process. The project Strengthening Civic Engagement and Participatory Governance Capacities is a part of USAID Local Governance Program which is financed by United States Agency for International Development USAID.

Tbilisi. Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary reacts to the amendments in the Organic Law on Common Courts. “On June 13, the Parliament of Georgia adopted amendments to the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts in the third reading. The Georgian Dream’s stated purpose of adopting the amendments was to fulfill the recommendations of the European Commission. However, according to the Venice Commission’s opinion, the draft law did not meet its recommendations concerning the judiciary.  That is why the Coalition calls on: The President of Georgia to submit the Law to the Venice Commission for urgent opinion; and The President and the Parliament of Georgia, if necessary, to use the constitutional mechanisms that will ensure the reflection of the fundamental justice sector reforms in the law in accordance with the Venice Commission’s recommendations”. Learn more… Source: idfi.ge

Samegrelo. In Mukhuri village, Khabaleri district 35 families are requesting the much-needed paving of roads and installation of drainage channels. With the support of the TI Georgia’s Committee of Concerned Citizens, they have submitted the request to Chkhorotsku City Hall. The organization urge Chkhorotsku City Hall to promptly address our appeal and fulfill the rightful demands of Mukhuri residents. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network