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The Statement of the Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary on the Meetings with Presidential Candidates

Coalition 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 more

The Statement concerning the United National Movement Leaving the Interagency Commission

We 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 more

Statement of non-governmental organizations involved in the development of Code on Local Self-Government

Development 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 more

GYLA’s Response to the October 10 Statement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

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 more

The Round Table “Reinforcing Civil Society’s Role in Prevention of Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment”

The 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 more

Tbilisi City Court Suspended Announced Competition in the Public Broadcaster

Tbilisi 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 more

GYLA calls on the General Prosecutor’s Office for initiation of investigation on the fact of Levan Korkotashvili health injury

On 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 more

GYLA Comments on the Establishment of the State Constitutional Commission

On 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

Successful Cases in September

A 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 more

The report of NGO Coalition concerning fulfillment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Georgia

The 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 more