Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia

Vaziani settlement in Gardabani district attracted public attention on March 11 when five-storied residential building # 8 partly ruined. Nobody was damaged by the incident but its inhabitants remained homeless.

The topic of selling Georgian lands to foreigners has become hot topic recently. The problem has many directions and contains many aspects. In many villages, local populations opposed foreign investors. One of most recent incidents occurred in Ditsi village, Gori district when it became police officers interfered into the controversy to calm people down.

On March 24, strong wind removed roofs of about 35 residential buildings in Gori.  Local budget cancelled several projects on that purpose and allocated 1,5 million lari for the rehabilitation activities.

The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published on 20 March 2013 the annual “neighbourhood package”, consisting of a joint communication making an assessment of the ENP implementation in 2012 a report on the “Partnership for Democracy and Shared prosperity” with Southern Mediterranean, an Eastern Partnership progress report, 12 country reports, including one on Georgia.

DOES Bidzina Ivanishvili have an international public relations problem? High poll ratings and a commanding majority in parliament suggest his position is secure at home in Georgia. Yet the international press tends to portray a billionaire chief executive who does not understand democracy and wants to crush his foes. As political cohabitation between the Georgian Dream and the United National Movement (UNM) is not working, the country’s image abroad is suffering.

The new Georgian government is on a mission to persuade U.S. officials and lawmakers to help stave off what they describe as a pending constitutional crisis that could derail presidential elections in the U.S.-allied Russian neighbor.

Ministry of justice introduced new Labor Code of Georgia where substantial amendments are made. New amendments promote protection of employees’ rights and prevent them from illegal dissmisals from work. Though, Ministry of Justice of Georgia did not fully consider some fundamental recommendations of NGOs and Trade Unions while working on the draft. In particular, a new draft Labor Code does not duly envisage women’s labor rights, employment of people with disabilities and their labor rights.

A press-conference was held  in the office of Human Rights Center on  dismissals of  patrol-inspectors from Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti patrol unit.  Representatives of the center as well as  former patrol  police  employees consider the dismissals illegal  and urge the Minister of  Interior Affairs  to investigate the fact.

On February 28, 2013 Ucha Nanuashvili, the Public Defender of Georgia presented the Report on the State of Human Rights in Institutions for Persons with Disabilities for 2012.