Today, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association arranged a briefing in GYLA/Rustavi office. The topic of discussion was “Deficiencies during pre-election agitations in Georgian regions”. Lela Bekauri, employer of GYLA/Rustavi office also appeared at the briefing together with GYLA chairperson. Some hours latter from the press-conference a stranger called her on the phone threatening and insulting her. At the briefing Lela Bekauri pointed out those deficiencies which appeared in election office of the Rustavi majoritarian candidate Lela Aptsiauri. Population received there vouchers worth to 37 kilowatts of electricity. It was declared that Leila Aptisuri was so generous as to give the vouchers to socially vulnerable families as a part of her pre-election campaign. Lela Bekauri was a person who revealed the mentioned deficiency. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association asks for independent and impartial investigation and punishment of the persons who implement such pressure. Obviously, if the government fails to react on such actions it will be suspected in covering of the offenders.
2006-09-20 20:00 See moreGeorgian civil society has called on the state authorities to be included in the process of implementing OPCAT in the country. On 18 July 16 different Georgian NGOs gathered at a round-table meeting in Tbilisi to discuss their involvement in this process. The meeting, which was co-sponsored by Penal Reform International’s Tbilisi Regional Office and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, resulted in a declaration, in which Georgian civil society urged the Georgian authorities to work closely with them to discuss the establishment of a national detention monitoring mechanism as well as to nominate suitable candidates to the international Subcommittee on Prevention. The APT also attended this event in order to give a presentation on the possible models and practices which Georgia might learn from other countries. The visit was the second by the APT to Tbilisi in 2006 to assist the OPCAT implementation process. It is envisaged that a follow-up meeting will take place in Tbilisi in September 2006, which the APT will attend.
2006-08-09 20:00 See moreBy the third hearing the Parliament of Georgia adopted a draft on State Procurements. According to the draft the law on State Procurements should not apply to procurements implemented by the Presidential Fund and/or for covering cost of presidential events. The draft confers unlimited powers to the President of Georgia, however, it is not the first attempt. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association criticized the draft submitted to the Parliament by the government’s initiative already in May 2006.
2006-07-27 20:00 See moreIn 2002 United Nations Organization adopted the Optional Protocol of the UN Convention against Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment. The aim of the Optional Protocol is to establish the new system that will enable international and local organizations to visit on regular bases detained and arrested persons in pre-trial detention facilities and penitentiary institutions. Such visits will decrease their torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.
2006-07-19 20:00 See moreThe Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association filed a constitutional complaint. The case concerns article 208 of the Criminal Code. Lately judges frequently apply to article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code and sentence citizens to administrative detention for violating of the order in the court. For instance on June 22 the judge Giorgi Chemia sentenced Vakhtang Masurashvili to administrative detention for 20 days. Based on the mentioned article representatives of the Equality Institute were also sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention.
2006-07-02 20:00 See moreBy GYLA assistance the Georgian Ministry of Culture, Sport and Historic Monuments’ Protection became obliged to compensate salary (worth to 1,5 year) in favor of maestro Vakhtang Machavariani. According to the judgment of the Administrative Board of Tbilisi City Court Vakhtang Machavariani’s complaint against the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Historic Monuments’ Protection has been satisfied. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association represented the applicant. By the court judgment the order of the Georgian Ministry of Culture, Sport and Historic Monuments’ protection in regard to dismissing him from the occupied position was invalidated. The Ministry became obliged to issue the new order indicating that Vakhtang Machavariani’s personal application was the ground for his dismissing. Moreover, for failure to issue work certificate according to article 98 of the Labor Code the Ministry has to compensate Machavariani’s salary from June 15.2004 until January 30.2006.
2006-06-28 20:00 See moreBy its judgment (July 14.2006) the Constitutional Court did not satisfy GYLA claim in regard to constitutionality of the norms of the “Georgian Customs’ Code” (in relation to articles 24 and 41 of the Constitution). According to the disputed norms documents transferred to customs’ agencies are considered commercial secret. By the rendered judgment Constitutional Court challenged all the achievements of the Administrative Code. The Court considered, that public agencies might have commercial secret:“According to article 8 of the Civil Code, any natural or legal person may be a subject of private law relations which are regulated by the Civil Code.”
2006-06-21 20:00 See moreOn May 23- 24, 2006 the 4th International Conference of Information Commissioners was arranged. Tamar Gurchiani, coordinator of GYLA project “Freedom on Information, Law Reform and Financial Transparency” participated in the conference. The meeting of civil society representatives organized by Open Society Justice Initiative was also held. Civil society representatives worked out "Manchester Declaration", which calls everybody to declare right to freedom of information as a fundamental right. This right should be used in combating corruption. States should cooperate with civil society for implementing freedom of information laws. The full text of “Manchester Declaration” is available in the attachment. Manchester Declaration
2006-05-30 20:00 See moreToday, on June 29 the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association send a letter to the director general of the public broadcaster requesting live transmission of the hearing of Sandro Girvgvliani’s case. According to articles 16, paragraph c) of the Georgian law on public broadcaster, public broadcaster should guarantee timely and comprehensive submission of information to the audience on the ongoing events in Georgia.” Since public interest towards the hearing is great and the fact has great resonance, transmitting of the hearing in live is of utmost importance. It will assist to raising of public trust to impartiality and fairness of judiciary is Georgia.
2006-05-28 20:00 See moreTraining seminar “Taking cases to the European Court of Human Rights” was delivered within the framework of joint project “Strengthening Human Rights Capacity” carried out by Georgian Young Lawyers Association and European Human Rights Advocacy Centre. Seminar was delivered by Bill Bowring and Philip Leach, practising lawyers specialising in human rights. The seminar was dedicated to the discussion of the procedures for applying to the European court of Human Rights and admissibility as well as to the consideration of various fundamental rights guaranteed by the European Convention. The seminar was interactive; Therefore, it was possible to deliberate over specific examples characteristic to Georgian reality. Aforementioned seminar was oriented on raising public awareness with regard to the application to the European Court of Human Rights. The result is a qualified lawyer able to select potential cases for submitting before the European Court of Human Rights.
2006-05-07 20:00 See more