We, the undersigned organizations, would like to express our position on some of the legal issues related to the Khudoni hydropower plant (Khudoni HPP) project as well as to raise our concerns over the recent developments. On April 28, 2011 the Government of Georgia and the company Trans Electrica Limited (together with other parties) signed an agreement on the building, ownership and operation of Khudoni HPP. Under the agreement, the company undertook to abide by the requirements set under Georgian legislation, including to obtain permits and licenses necessary for the project implementation.
2013-10-17 04:47 See moreOn September 24, 2012 the Central Election Commission adopted resolution determining the rule of photo-video recording at the polling stations on the election day. The resolution stipulates following restrictions on the polling station: - If an individual authorized to be in the polling station is moving with a camera or leaves the building, he/she is deprived of the opportunity to re-enter the polling station and implement photo-video recording;
2013-10-16 08:49 See moreCoalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary is ready to promote in pre-election period information and opinion sharing process among civil society representatives and presidential candidates on topical issues of judiciary.
2013-10-15 03:40 See moreWe would like to voice our position on the developments at the session of Interagency Commission for Free and Fair Elections held on October 11, 2013 when the United National Movement made a decision on leaving the commission. Some of the observers who attended the meeting confirm verbal altercation between UNM member and the head of the commission. According to them MP Tinatin Bokuchava accused Tsulukiani of trying to “destroy” the United National Movement while the Minister of Justice responded that they have already done it.
2013-10-12 02:48 See moreDevelopment of the local self-government is one of the most essential preconditions for the European countries development. Self-governing bodies, which are well aware of the problems faced by local dwellers, as well as citizen-oriented territorial entities, local self- government entities with sufficient budget authorities (self-governing cities and communities), represent the basis for a sustainable and democratic development of the country. Carrying out a comprehensive reform of the local self-government is the fundamental principle for proper development of Georgia. This will establish European governance in the country and will contribute to the process of further integration of Georgia into the European Union (EU).
2013-10-11 07:31 See moreOn 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 more