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Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association will carry out the pre-election monitoring for the upcoming 2013 Presidential Elections

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association started monitoring of pre-election period for the upcoming 2013 presidential elections on July 1, 2013, by means of its regional offices in the following seven regions of Georgia: Adjara, Guria, Imereti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Tbilisi.  

2013-07-04 02:33 See more

Statement of NGOs about Changing the Presidential Election Date

On July 1, 2013, the president of Georgia set the date for the upcoming presidential election. According to the President’s Administration first announced October 27 as the date of the presidential elections and later it changed the date to October 31 under the presidential decree. 

2013-07-03 02:28 See more

The balance between freedom to peaceful assembly and freedom of movement

I can think of a number of demonstrations over the past few years when the police arrested participants for blocking traffic and violating the public order. However, today, I would like to draw your attention to the latest incident of May 1, 2013 in which the question how the state should keep balance between freedom to peaceful assembly and freedom of movement became topical again.  

2013-07-02 05:11 See more

Joint statement of NGOs about the necessity of the state’s timely and effective action in response to yesterday’s developments in the village of Samtatskaro

NGOs have released a joint statement about yesterday’s developments in the village of Samtatskaro, urging the authorities to take meaningful actions for ensuring safety of local Musllim population and for conflict resolution. 

2013-06-29 06:53 See more

NGOs Urging the Ministry of Finance of Georgia to Abide by Criminal Procedure Norms

According to the June 27 media reports, the Ministry of Finances’ (MOF) investigating service restricted the freedom of and took by force officials of Tbilisi City Hall and Sakrebulo to the MOF’s office for questioning. According to the municipal officials, while driving they were forced to pull over by men dressed in civilian clothes, telling them that they were under arrest. The municipal officials were handcuffed, their cell phones taken away and driven to the police department. 

2013-06-28 06:33 See more

GYLA Celebrated the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is celebrated on June 26. Every year GYLA celebrates the day with various different activities.  This year Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association facilitated a lecture/discussions at Ivane Javakhishvili State University in Tbilisi addressing the following issues:  

2013-06-26 11:08 See more

Joint Statement of NGOs about the Meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on June 20

In view of the high public interest, we deem it important to explain the reasons why we refused to watch the footage of torture and inhumane treatment shown yesterday at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.    First and foremost, we would like to note that recent years have been marked with systematic violations of human rights by subjecting individuals to the most cruel and degrading violence.  By providing access to videos of torture and inhumane treatment at the penitentiary system and the secretly recorded footage of personal lives, public became even more conscious of the cruelty and the scale of violence perpetrated for years by the state against individuals, without any legal repercussions. In a number of cases torture and inhumane treatment was committed to force individuals into confessing gravest crimes and to hold them liable.  

2013-06-21 03:51 See more

GYLA reacts on the draft conclusion of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament in terms of the May 17 developments

On June 18 mass media released draft conclusion of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament in terms of the May 17 developments. Although disseminated document is a draft and the Committee has not voted for the final version we consider decisive to highlight that certain legal assessments of the draft lack reasoning and are incompatible with the standards enshrined in the Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights. It should be noted that similar assessments were dominant in public discussions of the May 17 event. In view of this, for shifting these debates in correct legislative aspect, it is necessary to submit reasoned answers. Furthermore, we think that our opinions will have positive effect on the final content of the Parliament’s conclusion.   

2013-06-19 05:08 See more

GYLA Presented Research about the Practice of Providing Bonuses in Public Service

On June 19 GYLA held a presentation of a research the Practice of Providing Bonuses in Public Service in Georgia and Abroad.  While working on the research GYLA applied to Georgian ministries, the Government Chancellery of Georgia, the Presidential Administration and the Parliament of Georgia, requesting access to public information about applicable legal acts that regulate procedures for awarding bonuses within individual agencies, as well as information about the amount provided in bonuses from October 1, 212 to April 1, 2013 (to January 1, 2013 in case of the parliament). 

2013-06-19 02:29 See more

NGOs Apply to the Parliament of Georgia with a Request to Allow Candidates for HCoJ Membership to Testify before the Parliament

Second round of voting to elect members of the High Council of Justice (HCoJ) and the disciplinary board is scheduled to be held during today’s plenary session of the parliament where the following 12 shortlisted candidates will participate: Gocha Mamulashvili, Vakhtang Tordia, Nino Bakakuri, Eva Gotsiridze, Ekaterine Gasitashvili, Kakhaber Sopromadze, Mamuka Songhulashvili, Levan Khetsuriani, Gia Meparishvili, Madi Chantladze, Roin Migirauli and Davit Sualkvelidze, and four candidates for disciplinary board membership: Ketevan Bekauri, Nino Nishnianidze, Merab Chikovani and Giorgi Turazashvili.  

2013-06-14 04:19 See more