The Government of Georgia has declared the country’s integration with European Union (EU) as one of its major foreign policy goals that would bring Georgia political and economic stability, development and welfare. We, the undersigned, fully subscribe to this approach and to the extent possible contribute to Georgia’s approximation to EU standards. Unfortunately, representatives of the Georgian Government at times make statements that discredit European integration process among the citizens. For example, several days ago, one of the Government representatives stated that the price hike on meat that has been observed recently on the Georgian market is a consequence of European integration process. During the past several years, the Government of Georgia has been trying to initiate official negotiations on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). This issue was brought to an agenda by the Georgian government. The DCFTA foresees both the abolition of trade barriers and approximation of economic activity standards to those of the EU. If implemented properly, this should facilitate export of Georgian production to the European Union and contribute to increased foreign direct investments. More importantly, by introducing the European standards, the rights of Georgian citizens will be better protected and the standard of living in the country will be improved.
2011-06-28 15:05 See moreLegal Protection Center for Media under the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association provides legal aid to Nino Mikiashvili – the reporter of the media union “Obiektivi”. On 27 May 2011 the journalist applied to the Ministry of Interior claiming information on the riot police that participated in dispersing opposition rally on 26 May 2011. FOI officer of the Ministry of Interior did not react on the application. With the assistance of Media Legal Protection Center Nino Mikiashvili appealed FOI officer’s omission. On June 10, 2011 she applied to the Ministry of Interior with administrative complaint claiming to impose on FOI officer disclosure of the requested information. On 27 June 2011, administrative complaint was examined at the oral hearing in the Ministry of Interior. The lawyer of the Legal Protection Center for Media represented Nino Mikiashvili’s interests before the state agency. FOI officer of the Ministry confessed that he is obliged to disclose the information and in the nearest future he will submit requested information to the journalist.
2011-06-28 06:48 See morePart of Georgian NGOs will initiate joint campaign in the frames of which citizens will file tens of identical applications daily to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia claiming effective, impartial and comprehensive investigation and submitting of information on the investigation process on the cases of violations from the side of law enforcement representatives while dispersing opposition rally on 26 May 2011. On 26 May 2011, while dissolving opposition meeting at the Rustaveli Avenue instances of abusing power from the Police as well as other signs of committing offence were detected. On 20 June the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia published information on initiation of investigation on the facts of potential abuse of power by certain representatives of law enforcement agencies. On June 26 the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture a month has passed since dispersal of opposition rally, nevertheless the public does not possess specific information about liability of offender law enforcement representatives.
2011-06-28 06:43 See moreTo this end, part of Georgian NGOs initiates joint campaign and citizens will file tens of identical applications daily to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia claiming effective, impartial and comprehensive investigation as well as submission of the information on the investigation process. On 26 May 2011, while dispersing opposition rally at the Rustaveli Avenue instances of abusing power from the Police as well as other signs of committing offence were detected. On 20 June the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia published information on initiation of investigation on the facts of potential abuse of power by certain representatives of law enforcement agencies. On June 26 the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture a month has past since dispersal of opposition rally, nevertheless the public does not possess specific information about liability of offender law enforcement representatives.
2011-06-27 14:23 See moreOn 26 June, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association traditionally observed International Anti Torture day. GYLA arranged various events near the temporary detention facilities in Tbilisi and in regions. On 26 June, at 14:00 GYLA started simultaneous events in all cities where GYLA has its branch and regional offices, specifically in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Gori, Adjara, Kutaisi and Ozurgeti. In Tbilisi, the action was organized in Digomi, nearby the temporary detention facility No. 2. GYLA staff, volunteers, students and other interested individuals took part in the event. Participants adjusted yellow band with the slogan ”Stop Torture” in front of the temporary detention facility No 2. GYLA regional offices did the same near the detention facilities located in regions. The participants of the event were wearing T-shirts with the main slogans of the event on it: “Stop Torture” “Don’t be Silent!”, “Do not Conceal!”, “Do not Surrender!”, “Investigate!”.
2011-06-27 14:16 See moreTo this end, part of Georgian NGOs initiates joint campaign and citizens will file tens of identical applications daily to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia claiming effective, impartial and comprehensive investigation as well as submission of the information on the investigation process. On 26 May 2011, while dispersing opposition rally at the Rustaveli Avenue instances of abusing power from the Police as well as other signs of committing offence were detected. On 20 June the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia published information on initiation of investigation on the facts of potential abuse of power by certain representatives of law enforcement agencies. On June 26 the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture a month has past since dispersal of opposition rally, nevertheless the public does not possess specific information about liability of offender law enforcement representatives.
2011-06-27 14:08 See moreOn 26 June, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association traditionally observed International Anti Torture day. GYLA arranged various events near the temporary detention facilities in Tbilisi and in regions. On 26 June, at 14:00 GYLA started simultaneous events in all cities where GYLA has its branch and regional offices, specifically in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Gori, Adjara, Kutaisi and Ozurgeti.In Tbilisi, the action was organized in Digomi, nearby the temporary detention facility No. 2. GYLA staff, volunteers, students and other interested individuals took part in the event.
2011-06-27 10:19 See moreToday Tbilisi City Council will consider the draft decision initiated by the Mayor of Tbilisi. According to paragraph 2 of the draft monthly fee for waste collection services will be tied to electricity bills and each household will have to pay 0.05 GEL for each kilowatt of electricity consumed. The provision contradicts with the “the Law on Local Fees”. Article 12 Paragraph 4 of the Law states that “fee for waste management service per family member should not exceed GEL 3 per month”. The new proposed method of calculating fee will, however, lead to a situation wherein some households will have to pay more than GEL 3 per family member and therefore requirements of the “Law on Local Fees” will be violated. Furthermore, the submitted method of identifying the fee contains no information on the waste and is linked to the amount of consumed electricity by each household monthly, which has no causative link to waste collection.
2011-06-24 13:16 See morePending amendments to the Criminal Code were submitted to the Georgian Parliament for consideration. It implies introducing of some new articles to the Criminal Code, as well as alteration of the already applied ones. The newly submitted paragraph 2, of Article 3531 provides that attack on police officer, government official or representative of public institution, as well as on their family members; infringement upon the life, health or property in connection with the professional activity of the police officer or government official will envisage punishment from 7 up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment. Composition of the aforementioned norm covers other already applied articles of the Criminal Code that is inadmissible in view of codification of the norms as well as common practice. Furthermore, the maximal sentence –life imprisonment is disproportionate. Criminal Code of Georgia entails articles 117 and 118 that concern deliberate grave and less grave damage to health as well as Article 109 - interntional murder. Each mentioned norm considers “committing of such offence, in connection with the professional activity of a victim or his close relative” as separate aggravating circumstance. It means that attack on or infringement upon the life and health of police officer or government officials shall envisage punishment pursuant to the applicable articles which contain reasonable penalties.
2011-06-23 13:23 See moreOn June 13, Members of the Parliament of Georgia initiated a draft envisaging significant revision of the Law of Georgia on Assembly and Manifestation. It should be noted that the submitted draft contains unclear provisions as well as contains potential risks of human rights’ violation. Firstly, we should emphasize the conflict between the draft and the Constitutional Court decision of April 18, 2011 that invalidated certain provisions of the Law of Georgia on “Assembly and Manifestation” including the provision with blanket rule imposing limitation on organization of assemblies to the individuals who have no Georgian citizenship and the statement which deprived one person of the right to be the initiator of the Assembly and Manifestation. The Article of the draft imposing 20 meters radius principle with regard to certain buildings partially contradicts with the Constitutional Court decision. We consider that the suggested formulation in a blanket restriction and in the process of regulating assemblies and manifestations the attention should be paid on restrictions to block the entrances rather than on formal radius. Introducing back partially or completely the norms that were considered by the Constitutional Court unconstitutional shall be considered as absolute ignorance of the significance of Constitutional justice, that is unforgivable.
2011-06-17 13:40 See more