Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia
ARTICLES
2010-05-19
Presa.ge Got Hold of Expertise Conclusion on Roin Shavadze’s Case
Presa.ge got hold of two conclusions of the forensic
expertise – N 1739-111 and N2963/1 on Roin Shavadze’s case; according
to those conclusions, the senior sergeant Roin Shavadze, who had
returned home from the August war in 2008 two days ago, was initially
tortured and then killed.
2010-05-19
Amnesty International Responds to the Assertion of the MIA - Georgia Has Not Purchased Torture Equipment
Georgia: Ministry of Internal Affairs misconstrued
Amnesty International’s report on exports of policing equipment from EU
member states to Georgia Amnesty International rebuts false assertions
of the Georgian Ministry of Interior on 30 March1 alleging that the
organization published inaccurate information with regard to exports of
policing and security equipment from EU member states to Georgia in its
report, From Words to Deeds: Making the EU Ban on the trade in ‘tools of torture’ a reality (Index: EUR 01/004/2010).
2010-05-18
“Patients Will Not Stay in Such a Hospital; the Building Is Pulling Down”
The government of Georgia often boasts about the
development of hospital sector in the country and about the
construction of new hospitals in the regions. In fact, the doctors of
the region-based hospitals know the real situation better of all.
Nobody knows what will happen with the hospitals which are somehow
working now; most of them require serious reconstruction.
2010-05-18
Most Spread Methods of Election Rigging in Georgia
What methods are most popular in Georgia to rig the
elections, and whether it is possible to carry out fair municipal
elections on May 30 to show the real choice of the people? These
questions have become more and more urgent for the political parties
participating in the elections recently. The humanrights.ge interviewed
the board chairman of the International Center of Civil Culture Kote
Kandelaki who has been observing the elections for several years and
studies the features of the Georgian elections.
2010-05-17
Kvemo Kartli Region before Elections – Scarified Election Banners, Rapidly Changeable Opposition Feelings…
Next day, members of the Christian-Democrat Party found
their election banner scarified in the 7th micro district of Rustavi.
“The banners with our candidate in this district Giorgi Melikidze were
torn down and scarified next day. It is uncivilized form of fight. If
somebody thinks that by similar actions our rating will fall in this
city, he is very mistaken,” said the head of the Rustavi office of the
Christian-Democrats Aleko Akhvlediani.
2010-05-14
Governmental Officials of Georgia Were Bribed for the Purchase of Weapon from Israel
Online magazine MAIN JUSTICE
published scandalous article with the title “Superseding Indictment
Clarifies Alleged FCPA Conspiracy”. The article is about the ongoing
investigation in the USA on the corruptive facts discovered in the
weapon-trafficking. MAIN JUSTICE reports that high-ranking officials of
the Georgian government are also involved in this corruption. However,
their names are not mentioned in the article. Humanrights.ge thinks it
could be the main topic of the visit of the head of the US FBI in
Georgia several days ago when he met the minister of the internal
affairs of Georgia. Maybe, the detention of the former high-ranking
official of the Defense Ministry of Georgia Gela Berdzenishvili is
connected with this investigation as well. You can read the translation
of the full article.
2010-05-14
Members of the National Movement Have Absolute Majority in Election Commissions
Most opposition parties might have made a deal with the
government before the municipality elections of May 30. The reason of
the assumption is the party-belonging of the regional and district
election commissions members. However, neither those opposition parties
are active whose quotas were used by the National Movement.
2010-05-14
Strikers Committee Is Waiting for the Georgian Manganese to Keep Their Promises
The strike and protest demonstrations against Georgian
Manganese might renew in Zestaponi and Chiatura. On April 25, the
administration of the Georgian Manganese and the strikers committee
reached agreements after negotiations; however, it turned out temporary
agreement. The employees of the Georgian Manganese doubt the
administration lies to them. They doubted about it after the
shareholders of the company could not reach agreement.
2010-05-13
Initiative Group of Lawyers Started Manifestation in Front of the Parliament
Initiative group of lawyers started sitting
manifestation in front of the parliament building. Representative of
the initiative group Shalva Khachapuridze said the protest will last 24
hours a day till the results of the municipality elections of May 30
are announced.
2010-05-13
Head of CSD Was Fired Because of Pre-Election Oppression
The head of the Lanchkhuti district division of the
Constitutional Security Department was fired because of the oppression
on the single mandate candidate of the Alliance for Georgia.
2010-05-13
Alliance for Georgia Blames Chairman of the Samtredia Regional Election Commission in Close Relationship with the National Movement
According to the Alliance for Georgia, the first session
of the election commissions in Samtredia district was held with
violations. There are 50 polling stations and 49 000 registered voters
in the district. However, the changes are eventually introduced to the
election list. Unlike other opposition parties, only the representative
of the Alliance for Georgia Imeda Gogava protested the violations.
2010-05-13
Mikheil Saakashvili: “Yes, We Misuse Administrative Resources, but We Do It Anyway”
On April 22, 2010, chairman of the parliament of Georgia
Davit Bakradze warned public servants not to participate in the
pre-election campaign or they would be punished under the law. Despite
that, according to the non-governmental organizations, the
representatives of the opposition parties in the regions are still
compelled to participate in the elections; activists and supporters of
the opposition parties are threatened. In addition to that, the
candidates of the ruling party massively misuse administrative
resources.
2010-05-11
International Federation of Trade Unions Reminded Mikheil Saakashvili of Workers Rights
International Federation of
the Trade Unions of the World and Trade Unions of various countries got
interested in the problems of the workers of Zestaponi Ferro Factory
and Chiatura Mine. The strikes of the workers in Zestaponi and Chiatura
on April 20-22 had the result.
2010-05-11
In Guria Region Candidates of the National Movement Misuse Administrative Resources during Pre-Election Campaign
“Ozurgeti district governor Avtandil Mekvabishvili made
decisions in regard with the activities planned within the Rural
Development Program,” said interim district governor Mamia Baramidze.
2010-05-11
Match Which Was not Covered by Journalists – Aggressive Fans of MIA Attacked Fans of “Azoti” Team
Georgia occupied the 126th place in the new rating of
the freedom of press made by the Freedom House. The following story
demonstrates why we were so low in the rating and why we occupied the
place next to Nepal in the freedom of press.
2010-05-11
Zviad Dzidziguri: “I Calmed Down the Situation By Shooting”
At night of May 7, the incident occurred near the house
of the candidate for the city mayor from the National Council. The
activists of the ruling party claim they were posting the posters of
the National Movement in Cholokashvili Street when Zviad Dzidziguri
approached them. Initially, he insulted and then physically assaulted
them. Later, he shot in their direction four times. Zviad Dzidziguri
confirmed that he shot during the incident in front of his house. He
said, he has permission on he fire=gun and always has it with him,”
wrote the newspaper Resonance in the article “Zviad Dzidziguri: “I Shot
in the Air”/ “Let Them Provoke Me Wherever They Want But Never Provoke
My Family”.
2010-05-11
Violence in the Name of Orthodoxy – Extremists Overcame the Barrier
On May 7, the debates in the
program “Barrier” of the TV-Company “Kavkasia” about the book “Secret
Idiotism” (insulting name of the Last Supper) turned into the quarrel.
Journalist Aleko Elisashvili reported that human rights defender Beka
Mindiashvili and cinema-scientist Teo Khatiashvili left the studio in
protest; the representatives of the Union of Orthodox Parents and
Public Orthodox Movement met them in the yard who initially insulted
and then physically assaulted them. Other participants of the program
also went out in the yard at the noise and interfered in the quarrel.
2010-05-10
Georgian Participants of Hollywood Film Are Not Paid
Early in October of 2009, there was simulated fire in
Gori center. Burning tires, exploded cars, simulated dead people were
scattered in the streets; people with red paints on their faces were
running in front of the Stalin Statue; there were wounded soldiers and
scared people . Real tanks and helicopters were moving around… The
city, who endured the war once, saw the same again because Hollywood
works on a film about the war in August of 2008. Andy Garcia stars in
the film in the role of President Mikheil Saakashvili. The filming
process damaged both environment and people’s health who were not
warned about it in advance.
2010-05-07
“Can You Name Any Other State Which Did the Same?” – The World Bank Likes Cottages for IDPs
Transparency International – Georgia published next
report about the cottages of the internally displaced people (IDPs).
Besides the living conditions, which are described in the report, it
also states that international donor organizations intend to allocate
additional funds for the reconstruction of the defected cottages.
Supposedly, it will happen after the one-year guarantee of the building
companies expires – or when the companies will not be obliged to
reconstruct the cottages according to the agreement.
2010-05-07
“If They Are Not Alive, Please Give Us At Least Their Bodies” – Tskhinvali Urges European Commissionaire for Help
“We have all documents to prove that the missing people
were detained by Georgian law enforcement bodies. Currently, they are
either in isolation on Georgian territory, or they are already dead
which will be most tragic for us. In his case, we request their bodies.
We will request everybody to clarify the fate of our missing citizens
once and for ever. The Red Cross Committee promised to help us. I think,
the Committee, although it is neutral organization, cannot openly
express their position; but they know that we are write and they even
support us,” said the representative of the de-facto president of South
Ossetia in the regulation of the post-conflict situation Merab Chigoev.
OTHER NEWS
U.S. Condemns May 17 Homophobic Violence in Tbilisi
Four Men Arrested in Connection to May 17 Violence
No to Violence – Assembly in Batumi
Georgia Ranked 94th Place among Best Countries to Be a Mother
A Citizen Wounded When Combating Crime in Rustavi
Archive
BLOG
Historic Review of Georgian Political Advertisement
In 2005, American researchers estimated that political advertisements on TV have short (two-week) impact on voters. But the result is so rapid andDetailed...
Pre-election Advertisement Promises
Quality and Purpose of Political Advertisements
EDITORIAL
Human Rights Center to Monitor Trials on Former Senior Governmental Officials
How the detention process of former senior officials is going on; whether political motivation is detected in it and will the new initiativeDetailed...
As a result of international oppression, State Audit Office and National Bureau of Enforcement postponed the repressions
The August war- who is guilty?
POLL
How do you think, did the political prisoners, released by the Parliament of Georgia short time ago, deserve freedom?