On October 9-10, 2013, GYLA released statements about cases of Davit Kapanadze and Levan Korkotashvili. D. Kapanadze was visited by GYLA’s chairman while L. Korkotashvili held in Dusheti pre-trial detention isolator was visited by lawyer from GYLA’s office in Dusheti. These statement saying that information provided by the foregoing individuals suggested that police officers had possibly committed crime were based on their personal account of events. The statement called for investigation by the office of the prosecutor.
2013-10-11 05:29 See moreThe round table “Reinforcing Civil Society’s Role in Prevention of Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment” was held on October 11, 2013 in the frames of the project “Improvement of Prisoners’ Conditions –Joint Advocacy” implemented jointly by GYLA and the Public Defender’s Office. Head of the Human Rights Committee of the Parliament, other MPs, Deputy Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia, Head of Penitentiary Department and representatives from Public Defender’s Office and NGOs participated in the event.
2013-10-11 04:29 See moreTbilisi City Court accepted Giorgi Baratashvili’s (the ex-director of the Public Broadcaster) lawsuit claiming invalidation of the September 6, 2013 decision of the Board of Trustees, restoration to his former position and compensation for the missed salary. Furthermore, the court also admitted the second lawsuit where Giorgi Baratashvili demanded invalidation of the September 12, 2013 decision of the Board concerning announced competition on the vacant position of the general director.
2013-10-10 02:19 See moreOn October 9, Levan Korkotashvili’s family members applied to GYLA and alleged that on October 8, law enforcement representatives from old Tbilisi department of MIA No. 4 detained L.Korkotashvili for illegal procurement-storage of drugs. In the moment of detention he was beaten severely and sustained various bodily injuries. Now he is placed in Dusheti temporary detention isolator, where his health condition is critical and requires immediate medical intervention.
2013-10-10 01:54 See moreOn October 4 the Parliament of Georgia adopted a resolution on the “establishment of the State Constitutional Commission” for revision of the existing Constitution (effective as of October 9). Speaker of the Parliament Davit Usupashvili was appointed as the chairman of the commission. Under the resolution, the commission will be manned by politicians as well as chairpersons of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts as well as Adjara A/R Supreme Council, the public defender, the Minister of Justice, secretaries of the president and the parliament of Georgia, chairperson of the bar association, and “no more than 20 experts-specialists of public policy and public administration, including NGOs specializing in the field.” The Commission should submit draft Constitutional law to the parliament of Georgia until September 1, 2014. GYLA welcomes the initiative. There are a number of gaps in the existing Constitution, first and foremost related to the existing model of checks and balances. It is highly important to address the issue, as it would impact lives of every individual and the future of the country.
2013-10-10 01:32 See moreA citizen of Nigeria was able to obtain Georgia’s residence permit with the help of GYLA Beneficiary of legal aid provided by GYLA’s office in Tbilisi, a citizen of the Republic of Nigeria S.A.E. had its claim granted in part by the board of administrative cases of Tbilisi City Court. The latter ordered the Agency for the Development of State Services to revisit the issue of providing a residency permit to the applicant. The decision was also upheld by the appellate court and entered its legal force.
2013-10-10 01:23 See moreThe report of NGO Coalition concerning fulfillment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Georgia has been prepared to sum up the research carried out by NGO Coalition, including GYLA. NGOs have united in the Coalition with a view to evaluate fulfillment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Georgia.
2013-10-09 05:29 See moreOn October 8, media released information about David Kapanadze who was beaten by policeman and sustained gross bodily injuries as a result. GYLA visited David Kapanadze and concluded that information provided by him contains elements of offence. As Mr. Kapanadze has reported he is a choreographer, and works in two schools in Tbilisi. In addition he alleged that he had some verbal conflict with another choreographer T.Zh.
2013-10-09 04:10 See moreGYLA has been monitoring court hearings on Bacho Akhalaia’s case and concludes that prosecution’s conduct contains signs of deliberate delay of the trial. On the September 17th hearing, the prosecutor Revaz Nadoi had to submit his closing argument, however it was not done for his absence (it should be noted that the day before, on September 16th, the hearing on Megis Kardava’s and others case was postponed on the basis of Nadoi’s written application where he stated that preparation for the closing argument on Akhalaia’s case was the reason of postponement). At the next hearing Revaz Nadoi, failed to appear for his worsened health condition, however, the case still misses the relevant medical document justifying the fact.
2013-10-08 09:04 See moreAs it is known to public, GYLA held presentation of the report “Rehabilitation Process beyond the Facade” on September 24 and 27, 2013 in Tbilisi and Batumi. The report discusses in details the the program for Rehabilitation of Historic Districts and Tourism Infrastructure in Batumi carried out by Batumi local self-government in 2009-2013. The projects funded in the framework of the Program, such as construction of Alphabetic Tower and Piazza Square, as well as Historic Fort and Opera House are submitted separately in the report. Important part of this report also addresses monuments with the status of cultural heritage in Batumi.
2013-10-08 06:56 See more