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In January of 2011, the Georgian Ministry of Interior completed the eviction process of IDPs from temporary settlement locations in Tbilisi. The process reflects an effort to tackle a massive displacement problem as a result of the conflicts in the early 1990s in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Georgia-Russia war in 2008. So far around five thousand IDPs have been evicted from Tbilisi, most of them left without shelters and others resettled in the regions of Georgia.

The mortality among prisoners increases. In 2006-2009, 371 people died in the penitentiary institutions. The report of the Public Defender of Georgia states that average age of dead prisoners is 45.

Voluntary organisations, institutions and individuals worldwide are welcome to nominate candidates for the 2011 Rafto Prize for Human Rights. The Rafto Prize, awarded in memory of Norwegian professor Thorolf Rafto, is awarded to an individual or organisation that embodies and upholds the principles of the Human Rights Charter through activism or engagement.

On January 28, 2011, in the framework of the 10th Session of the UN Human Rights Council’s Periodic Review, the Government of Georgia presented a national report on the current human rights situation. The UN Human Rights Council discussed the human rights situation in Georgia between the periods of 2006-2010 through interactive dialogue spanning three hours. Georgian authorities received 163 recommendations in total and immediately accepted 96 of them; refused 5 and discussions over 62 of the recommendations will take place over the next few months. After this time, the Government of Georgia will elaborate its final position.

Georgia is among those states where over the course of a year, many legislative changes are made. Some experts and members of the public have responded positively to the corresponding changes, and others have expressed disapproval. This article briefly discusses the amendments implemented in the Georgian legislation during 2009-2010.

On February 16, at 4:00 pm, the video-studio of the Human Rights Center HRIDC.TV will screen a new documentary entitled “The Disappeared”, which focuses on the puzzling disappearances of several individuals within Georgia. This film by Giorgi Janelidze highlights the lesser-known facts and aspects to these disappearances.

In June of 2005, a religious man Sadardin Palangov, “Gara Mola”, disappeared under strange circumstances in Sadakhlo village in the Marneuli district.

In October of 2009, ethnic Chechen, Deputy Culture Minister of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria (in exile) Said-Husein Tazbaev disappeared in Tbilisi.

Nothing is known about 17-year-old Giga Elizbarashvili, who disappeared in the Vachnadzeani village in Gurjaani district on September 17, 2010.
Vasil Tsiklauri, 14, disappeared from the village of Arkhiloskalo in Dedoplistskaro district on September 26, 2010.

The resulting investigation has not been unable to provide any resolution to the abovementioned incidents, nor has it been able shed light on the reasons behind these disappearances.

Currently, 907 people have disappeared in Georgia that is serious number for such a small country like Georgia.

The screening will take place at the Cinema House, in Dzmebi Kakabadzeebi Str. 2 Tbilisi.

The Human Rights Center

Where: Tbilisi, Dzmebi Kakabadzeebi Str. 2 Host: Cinema House

The Draft Law on Personal Data Protection adopted by the first hearing of Georgian Parliament contradicts its aim of strengthening data protection mechanisms and restricts the inviolability of private life. Moreover, it fails to reach a balance between the right of private life and freedom of information, thus violates Georgia’s international obligations.

A delegation from the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court today concluded a two-day visit to the Russian Federation.