The Joint Statement of the Civil Society and Religious Organizations

The below signatory organizations express our negative attitude once again in terms of the draft initiated in the Parliament qualifying public expression of hatred towards sacred objects, religious organizations, clergymen or worshippers by an individual, aimed at hurting religious sentiments as administrative offence and envisaging subsequent administrative liability. In addition, illegal interference in divine service or religious rights or defile of religious constructions or other sacred objects, any inscriptions thereon or/and their injury should also be qualified as administrative offence.   

GYLA Responds to the Unreasoned Dismissal of 22 Employees from Tbilisi Local Council

On October 7, 2013  22 former employees from the local council applied to GYLA for legal assistance. In the application they have noted that in September they were released from the office under the motive of structural reorganization and asked to determine the legality of their dismissal.   GYLA studied the application, submitted documents and requested from the local council additional information. On the basis of the documents we can conclude that they have been dismissed in violation of law. The opinion is underpinned with the following circumstances: 

The Statement of Media Advocacy Coalition on Election of the Members of the Board of Trustees of Ajara TV and Radio

Media Advocacy Coalition objects to  the November 5, 2013 decision of Ajara High Council which completely ignored “the Law on Broadcasting” and violated quota system envisaged by the law for election of members of the Board of  Trustees of Ajara TV and radio. Members of the “Georgian Dream”  disallowed minority members to nominate their candidates for the membership to the Board of Trustees, as provided by the “Law on Broadcasting”. As a result, by the decision of November 5, 2013 the Board of Trustees of Ajara TV was manned by one-party principle.  

Civil Society Organizations Urge the Parliament against Adopting the Law that Imposes Administrative Liability for Hurting Religious Sentiments

The below signatory civil society organizations disapprove of the legal draft submitted to the parliament that imposes administrative liability for hurting religious sentiments.    The Parliament of Georgia is currently reviewing a bill qualifying public expression of hatred towards sacred objects, religious organizations, clergymen or worshippers by an individual, aimed at hurting religious sentiments, as administrative offence and envisaging subsequent administrative liability. We believe that the bill falls short of Constitutional and international human rights standards, and is essentially harmful to freedom of expression, and the development of pluralistic, liberal and democratic society in the country.  

Evaluation of Presidential Elelction Day , October 27

Starting from the date of its foundation in 1994, GYLA is active in monitoring legislative, executive and local government’s elections and strives to support peaceful and fair conduct of elections with full observance of Georgian legislation. On October 27th, the Presidential Election Day, GYLA observed election process in 8 regions and 36 election districts with more than 400 observers. Moreover, GYLA had observers at the polling stations in the Great Britain and Germany.  

Election Day in Infographics

Election day observation results, as for 21:00

GYLA continues to monitor the course of election day at 36 Election districs in Tbilisi and regions.   At 20:00 polling stations have been closed and vote counting has started.   From 18:00 to 21:00 GYLA observers have detected the  following violations:

Election day observation results, as for 18:00

As for 6 p.m. GYLA continues to  monitor the course of election day at 36 Election districs both, in Tbilisi and regions. First of all, we would like to state, that as already reported at previous press-conferences, elections are taking place in a calm environment with no significant violations observed so far. During the last several hours, following types of violations have been revealed by GYLA’s observers:

Election day observation results, as for 15:00

GYLA continues to  monitor  the course of election day at 36 Election districs in regions and Tbilisi. Polling process is taking place in a calm environment. As for 15:00, procedural violations are identified in several precincts. During the last several hours, GYLA’s observers revealed several types of violations and drafted complaints. According to our observations, violations were mainly conditioned by ignorance of Elections Code.

Election day observation results, as for 9:00

By  9 a.m. polling process was taking place in a calm environment. The majority of election precincts observed by GYLA monitors were fully equipped with necessary voting equipment and ready for opening procedures. At several polling stations, mostly special precincts, GYLA monitors had problems with admission. Problems also occurred during casting of lots and control sheet filling out process. GYLA has detected following procedural violations: