Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) observed by-elections of the Parliament of Georgia in Martvili and Sagarejo held on 31 October 2015. On the day of voting about 20 observers of GYLA observed election process statically and through mobile groups. Based on experience it was decided to focus on those election precincts that were problematic during the previous elections, created on exceptional basis and inhabited with ethnic minorities.On the voting day GYLA observers identified 19 violations, including: 4 cases of improper implementation of official duties by members of electoral commission, 2 cases of presence of unauthorized persons in the precinct, 3 cases related to improper equipment of precincts, 2 confrontations near precincts, 5 cases of filling in the control paper with deficiencies, 1 case of voting without marking and 2 cases of improper arrangement of the voting building. The observers also detected that 8 groups of unidentified people were present near election precincts.
2015-11-10 16:51 See moreGYLA expresses extreme concern over alleged police violence against Lawyer Giorgi Mdinaradze on November 8, and urges the Office of the Prosecutor to ensure prompt, comprehensive and objective investigation and prosecution of the incident. It has been reported that Lawyer Mdinaradze, who was at the fifth department of Vake-Saburtalo Police to represent his juvenile client, was allegedly subjected to physical violence by police officers.
2015-11-09 10:17 See moreGYLA expresses extreme concern over alleged police violence against Lawyer Giorgi Mdinaradze on November 8, and urges the Office of the Prosecutor to ensure prompt, comprehensive and objective investigation and prosecution of the incident. It has been reported that Lawyer Mdinaradze, who was at the fifth department of Vake-Saburtalo Police to represent his juvenile client, was allegedly subjected to physical violence by police officers. Based on representatives of the Public Defender, Mr. Mdinaradze was injured during the incident - he has hemorrhaging and bruising around his right eye, scratches on scratches on his left jaw, and a bruising on the right side of his neck.
2015-11-09 10:17 See moreThe Coalition is extremely concerned by the dangerous precedent set by Judge Urtmelidze’s decision to fire current management of Rustavi 2 to replace them with provisional management in order to ensure fair and adequate media coverage of events.
2015-11-06 17:23 See morePresence of unauthorized individuals was reported outside electoral precinct no.2 of Martvili and electoral precincts no.14, no.15 and no.31 of Sagarejo. They were registering voters who had arrived at the polls, which constitutes indirect control of voters’ free will and suggests the necessity to establish applicable legal regulations and introduce the notion of ‘area outside a polling station’ in the Election Code. Mikheil Nachkebia, a majoritarian member of Martvili Sakrebulo from Village Martvili was present at the electoral precinct no.13 of Martvili wearing a badge of Martvili Newspaper. The issue is rather problematic, because in absence of applicable prohibitions, political officials are able to monitor the process as a representative of press and other media. The said incident illustrates a legislative gap that allows a member of Sakrebulo to participate in and monitor the process of elections as a representative of press and other media.
2015-10-31 20:22 See moreGYLA’s observers reported acts of confrontation outside Sagarejo no.42 electoral precinct where supporters of majoritarian candidates from the Georgian Dream and the Alliance of Patriots clashed. Based on GYLA’s observers, total of 7 people were involved in the incident. Physical confrontation was also reported outside Satarejo no.20 electoral precinct. PEC Chairperson called police to the scene of the incident to maintain order and avoid provocation. Although both acts of alleged violence occurred outside (as opposed to inside) polling stations, such incidents create tension and interfere with peaceful administration of election processes.
2015-10-31 18:54 See moreGeorgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) is monitoring October 31 majoritarian by-elections in Martvili and Sagarejo. As of 11:00 am, the polling process is taking place in a peaceful environment. Majority of electoral districts where GYLA observed opening of polling stations were ready on time to receive first voter. GYLA’s observers find it unnecessary to file complaints because most of the PEC chairs are responding to concerns of the observers. At this time, GYLA’s observers have reported the following violations: Culpable/improper performance of official duties of election worker
2015-10-31 11:30 See moreFor the last few days, the video records, depicting torture, are being aired through the TV company “Obiektivi”. The mentioned video records are repeatedly aired in the format of the advertisement, in a way which makes it possible to identify the victims. We consider that it is unacceptable for the media to air the mentioned videos in this way, because this violates the right to privacy of the victims and might have dire psychological impacts on both victims, as well as their family members and the broader public. At the same time, the video records can become easily accessible to the underaged.
2015-10-28 12:57 See moreThe September 2015 amendments to the Law on Prosecutor’s Office have changed procedures for the appointment of Prosecutor General. The amendments introduced Prosecutorial Council consisting of 15 members including Minister of Justice, 2 Parliament Members, 2 common court judges, 2 representatives of the academia, and 8 prosecutors. The Council has been endowed with an important role in the selection and appointment of Prosecutor General. The amendments also introduced Prosecutors Assembly, which includes all prosecutors and investigators working for the Prosecutor’s Office. The Assembly is responsible for the election of 8 members of the Prosecutorial Council.
2015-10-26 17:12 See moreThe organizations that have prepared and signed this statement would like to respond to the tense developments in the country. We believe that various groups have recently stepped up the activities that pose a threat to the pluralism in the media and political pluralism as well as to the public order. There is a real threat of further escalation of the situation and violent actions, so all political and civil groups need to treat the situation with a special sense of responsibility. Attacks on the opposition United National Movement have been carried out in an organized manner over the last few days. A chronology and brief descriptions of the attacks are provided at the end of this statement. It has been reported that Georgian Dream activists, as well as heads of village administration and other representatives of local self-government bodies, were involved in the attacks that followed the protest rallies held outside the United National Movement’s offices in the capital and almost every region. Aside from the party offices, the attacks also targeted the Saakashvili Presidential Library. The timing and the manner of the attacks suggest that they were organized and planned in advance. Also, attacks were previously carried out against the Constitutional Court judges, prompting the Constitutional Court chairman to address the Georgian president, the Prime Minister and the Parliament Chairman with an extremely alarming statement and ask for the illegal actions against the court and its judges to be investigated. In order to fully understand the situation, it is necessary to keep in mind recent public screening of torture videos and public calls for violence, which also constitute a crime.
2015-10-23 10:01 See more