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. The signatory organizations request that government officials: Stop attacking and harassing non-governmental organizations; Strengthen the participation of the civil sector, including its critical members, in the decision-making process and conduct a healthy discussion and dialogue with them. Ensure the existence of a safe and free environment for the activities of civil organizations and human rights defenders, which is expressed by declaring public support for them, as well as by effective investigation of crimes committed against them. See the full statement in English... Source: hrht.ge

Tbilisi. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Association “Anika” and the company “Skillwill Academy”. The memorandum aims to strengthen people's capacities in the field of information technology and the promotion of employment. The program proposed by "Skillwill Academy" will establish an inclusive approach in the technological field, creating equal opportunities and conditions for People with Disabilities. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. We all know that citizens can engage in parliamentary work but where exactly, how and why - is often unclear. Test your understanding of Georgia’s Parliament with the quiz and find out what we can do as citizens to take part… This test was developed by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information with the European Union in Georgia and UNDP Georgia support. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Georgia and Japan are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries. On September 7, the Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP), in cooperation with Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), organized the public discussion – “Thirty Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Georgia and Japan.” Read more… Source: gip.ge

Tbilisi. September 8, the Georgia Red Cross celebrates its 104th anniversary. “The Georgia Red Cross Society has been carrying out humanitarian activities throughout the country for more than a century. We congratulate all of Georgia, especially our representatives across the country and volunteers, on the birthday of the Georgia Red Cross and thank them for their selfless work”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. It's International Literacy Day. Just 10 to 15 minutes a day with a book is enough to spark your curious little one’s interest. Read on for UNICEF top tips on fostering a love of literature… 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...

Tbilisi. The EU Delegation to Georgia welcomes the new Ambassador Pawel Herczynski! Read the message from the Ambassador. “It is an honour, but also a great responsibility for me to be the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia. My tenure comes at one of the most important moments in EU-Georgia relations. The historic decision by the European Council to grant Georgia the European perspective sets a new reality. Together with my team, I will work tirelessly assisting Georgia on its path to the European Union. It is an enormous privilege to have the chance to contribute to this process”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.eeas.europa.eu

Since February, the EU has imposed hard-hitting sanctions against the Kremlin, with the aim of halting the invasion of Ukraine.  State of play on sanctions read more… Source: eu-solidarity-ukraine.ec.europa.eu

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia studied the issue of Georgia's economic dependence on Russia, as it poses a threat to the country. In particular, the data as of June 2022, on trade between Georgia and Russia, tourists, remittances, foreign direct investments from Russia, and registration of Russian companies in Georgia were analyzed. In January-June 2022, Georgia received about USD 1.2 billion in income from Russia through remittances, tourism, and commodity exports, which is 2.5 times more than the income received from Russia in January-June 2021 from the same sources. Moreover, this year’s receipts are 36% more than the income received from Russia before Covid-19 - in January-June 2019. This means that compared to previous years, Georgia's economic dependence on Russia has been increasing. This growth is mainly due to the soaring remittances. Exports of goods taken separately decreased. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On August 18-20, 2022, Boot Camp: "Polarized Society Facing Hybrid Challenges", organized by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the University of Georgia (UG), was held in which the students of the IDFI/UG Academic and Certificate Course - Disinformation and Propaganda Studies: History, Theories and Ways of Debunking were involved. Within the framework of the two-day camp, the participants discussed the modern challenges of hybrid warfare, the current trends related to the manipulation of information, and the spread of propaganda. Special attention was paid to the policies following Russia's aggressive invasion of Ukraine and the leverages of society based on Ukraine's experience in the fight against hybrid warfare. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. In the village of Adzvi, located in the Gori municipality, the police did not allow Human Rights Center to see the water conduit which according to the locals had been polluted. The NGO sector and media often speak about the unjustified restrictions existing on movements near the boundary line. HRC sent an official letter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service. HRC requested a response from the agencies as to why the movement to the villages near the boundary line is restricted and whether there is a relevant normative act regulating the issue. Read more… Source: www.humanrights.ge

Adjara. According to the TI Georgia’s information the Mayor of the Khelvachauri Municipality Zaza Diasamidze is building a house without a permit, and the construction expenses are not disclosed in the asset declaration. Transparency International Georgia found that Zaza Diasamidze started construction in 2019, on the land belonging to his wife, Tamila Tchurkveidze, although he only reported this in the asset declaration submitted in 2022. The information about the donated land plot can be found in the asset declaration submitted by Zaza Diasamidze in 2019, submitted as the Head of Division of the Khelvachauri District of the Adjara Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). Tamila Tchurkveidze received a 500-square-meter plot of land in 2018 upon a deed of gift from her father. The plot is located in Akhalsopeli, 240 meters from the Gonio-Apsaros highway. A month later, Tamila Tchurkveidze applied to the Batumi City Hall for permission to utilize a homestead for building a house; the City Hall approved the application in October of the same year. In December 2018, Diasamidze’s wife agreed an architectural project with the Batumi City Hall, however, according to the letter of the City Hall’s Urban Development and Policy Service a construction permit was never issued for this architectural project, consequently, Zaza Diasamidze and his wife never paid a construction permit fee. Transparency International Georgia urges Batumi City Hall to investigate unauthorized construction in Batumi by the Khelvachauri Municipality Mayor and take prompt action. Furthermore, organization urges the Civil Service Bureau to review the violations found in the asset declarations of Zaza Diasamidze and respond in accordance with the law. Read more… Source: transparency.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...

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...

Imereti. “Local Democracy Agency Georgia” held a working meeting with the members of the Baghdati  Youth Council. The purpose of the meeting was to present and discuss the municipal program developed based on the needs of local youth. The municipal youth program prepared based on the initiatives of the council members will be submitted to the municipality for further consideration. The Baghdati Youth Council is being strengthened within the framework of the project “Civil Society STAR Initiative,” with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia, within the framework of the project “Civil Society STAR Initiative”, provided consultations to the  representatives of civil society and community organizations in Tkibuli municipality. At the meeting: was presented the results of the research conducted by CSI, which related to the tax environment of the civil society organizations; was provided consultations on management issues of the organization in order to strengthen them; was given the information about the grant competitions announced in Imereti region. Similar meetings will be held in the municipalities of Imereti region. The meetings are being organized by LDA Georgia within the framework of the project “Civil Society STAR Initiative”, with the support of the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Read more…  Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The team of the Social Justice Center celebrated the winning of the 2022 global Max van der Stoel award established by the OSCE’s High Commissioner on National Minorities to honor the contribution to supporting and empowering national minorities. The Max van der Stoel Award, one of the most prestigious titles in the field of Human Rights was established in 2001 for organizations and individuals with an outstanding record of commitment and achievements in supporting ethnic/national minorities in their countries. Read more… Source: socialjustice.org.ge

Tbilisi. A closing meeting was held on June 11-12 within the framework of the ongoing project “Empowering New Generation of Local Civil Society Leaders in Georgia". "The project is being implemented with the technical support of ISFED and the financial support of the Black Sea Trust, a Project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Young leaders who have attended civic education workshops from different municipalities of Georgia participated in the meeting. The main goal of the meeting was to give the graduates an opportunity to inform each other about the success stories accumulated as a result of participating in the project. Those graduates, who implemented small grant initiatives in their municipalities within the project, shared their successful practices with others, talked about the implemented activities, the achieved results, and the lessons learned. The participants also discussed the ways of further cooperation”. Read more…  Source: isfed.ge