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The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association upholds the CPT report

“The fact that Georgia locks up so many of its citizens cannot be convincingly explained away by a high crime rate; the policy of “zero tolerance on crime” and the general outlook of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the judiciary must, in part, be responsible…” “The above-described conditions of detention under which the vast majority of prisoners at Prison No. 5 were held amount to inhuman and degrading treatment and as such constitute an affront to a civilised society…”

2007-10-24 20:00 See more

September 28 is the right to know day

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association celebrated the International Right to Know Day in 8 GYLA branch and regional offices in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Gori, Telavi, Dusheti, Kutaisi, Ozuregti and Batumi by organizing various events.

2007-10-01 20:00 See more

GYLA submitted an opinion with regard to the draft “Pupil’s Code of Ethics”

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association reviewed and submitted the preliminary opinion on the draft prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science, that concerns introducing of the “Pupils’ Code of Ethics” in the secondary schools. GYLA sent its preliminary opinion to the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science and to 20 pilot schools selected in the frames of the program “the safe school”. Preliminary Comments of the Georgian Young Lavyers\' Association on The draft Pupils\' of Ethics

2007-09-24 20:00 See more

The Georgian Government under the Sunshine – The Final Reports VI and VII

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association within the campaign “the Georgian Government under the Sunshine” issued the sixth and the seventh final reports reflecting state agencies’ activities. The two publications cover activities of the Chamber of Control, General inspections of various agencies and financial monitoring of the Georgian President’s and the Government’s Reserve Funds, as well as problems encountered in the process of privatization. GYLA has been implementing monitoring over the state agencies activities for several years. It aims to assist effective, accountable and transparent governance. The state undertook obligation to reform the Chamber of Control and establish it as an independent agency. In reality, however, the state restricts the functions of the Chamber both legally and illegally. In particular, according to the amendment introduced to the relevant legislation, information with regard to the tax and customs’ incomes was considered secret. For that reason the Chamber of Control shall be deprived of the opportunity to get acquainted with the information. By the legislative amendment it can not control activities of local self-governance agencies either. Applicable legislation does not grant independence to the general inspections of various agencies. In particular, employees of the inspection agree their activities with relevant high officials of the specific agencies that conflict with international standards. At the end of the presentation, the audience discussed and searched for the ways to eliminate the detected violations.

2007-09-23 20:00 See more

The National Agency of Civil Registry fines citizens illegally for taking ID cards with delay

According to the information of the Ministry of Justice, “during the first 7 month in 2007 nearly 41 959 citizens were fined for taking ID cards with delay.” According to the Ministry, citizens are obligated to take ID cards within six month after s/he reaches 16 years. If a citizen  violates the term s/he has to pay GEL 5 as a fine. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) studied the issue and considers that the National Agency of Civil Registry fines citizens as per Article 185 of the Administrative Code of Offences, illegally.

2007-09-11 20:00 See more

GYLA Chairman applies to the Members of the Parliament

In 2007 the Parliament of Georgia plans adoption of the new Criminal Procedure Code by the second and the third hearings. The “present version” of the draft that has been elaborated since 2004 was adopted last summer at the first hearing.  Since 2004 the draft changed considerably. Giorgi Chkheidze applies to the members of the Parliament with a letter asking to return the new Criminal Procedure Code to the initial version. Each member of the Parliament, the head of the Supreme Court, the General Prosecutor of Georgia, Parliamentary secretaries of the President and the Government and the secretary of the high council of justice received the letter. Chairman of the GYLA appeals to the Members of The Parliament

2007-09-02 20:00 See more

GYLA will assist those persons whose rights might be infringed by Tbilisi government

On July 20 Tbilisi government adopted a decree (#15.22.419) on initiating of administrative proceeding with a view to reviewing some decrees issued by Tbilisi municipality, cabinet and Tbilisi government. Tbilisi government considers that, the decrees adopted in 1994-98 were issued by unauthorized agencies and should be invalidated. In case of invalidating the decrees citizens living in Tabukashvili str.#50 and other tens of proprietors will be deprived of the property right on their lands. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association considers that Tbilisi government misinterprets the law and deprives the citizens of the property right. We are ready to assist the persons whose property right might be infringed by the Tbilisi government.

2007-07-29 20:00 See more

GYLA will assist those persons whose rights might be infringed by Tbilisi government

On July 20 Tbilisi government adopted a decree (#15.22.419) on initiating of administrative proceeding with a view to reviewing some decrees issued by Tbilisi municipality, cabinet and Tbilisi government. Tbilisi government considers that, the decrees adopted in 1994-98 were issued by unauthorized agencies and should be invalidated. In case of invalidating the decrees citizens living in Tabukashvili str.#50 and other tens of proprietors will be deprived of the property right on their lands. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association considers that Tbilisi government misinterprets the law and deprives the citizens of the property right. We are ready to assist the persons whose property right might be infringed by the Tbilisi government.

2007-07-29 20:00 See more

GYLA will protect Shalva Ramishvili’s interests in the Constitutional Court

Constitutional complaint submitted by GYLA, (where GYLA represents Shalva Ramishvili) challenges constitutionality of Article 5, paragraph 2 of the Georgian Election Code. The disputed article deprives all the prisoners of the right to exercise their franchise. According to the applicable legislation they can neither vote nor submit their candidacy.    If we consider that the Georgian Constitution provides for the principle of the proportional restriction of the rights. We deem it unconstitutional to restrict fundamental right; including the right to vote, even more than it is necessary in a democratic society.  By the Constitutional complaint we demand to restore the right to exercise the active election right (the right to vote) with regard to the convicted prisoners who have committed misdemeanors. It is noteworthy, that in the case Hirsty v. the United Kingdom the European Court of Human Rights considered restriction of the active election right with regard to prisoners as violation of Article 3, Protocol 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights (right to free elections). Georgia is a party to the Protocol and therefore entitled to fulfill obligations envisaged by the protocol and the judgments pertaining thereto.

2007-07-22 20:00 See more

10 Georgian NGOs request President to Veto the Law

 Mr. President,  On June 11, 2007 the Parliament of Georgia by the majority of votes adopted amendments to the Georgian law on common courts. The draft aims ensuring of judiciary independence and considers photo and video recording in a court building, as well as, of a court hearing in a court hall inadmissible, except when it is implemented by the judiciary.

2007-07-17 20:00 See more