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October 13, 2010

Constitutional reforms in Georgia

The constitution of Georgia has been amended twice since the Rose Revolution. In 2004, the amendment maximally satisfied the President’s ambitions and gave him near indefinite powers regarding legislative issues. In the second amendment, in 2010, more power is concentrated under the Prime Minister.

October 6, 2010

Call for support of the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly

Human Rights House Foundation and members of the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders are concerned about the restrictions on the freedom of assembly and association in the South Caucasus and call upon the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) and its Member States to give priority to strengthen mechanism, ensuring that the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly are respected.

September 14, 2010

Alleged ill-treatment/ Threats/ Violations of due process/ Fear for safety

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Human Rights Center (HRIDC), a member of OMCT SOS Network, that Mr. Vakhtang Maisaia, a political scientist and military expert, who was arrested for espionage on 5 May 2009, was severely beaten on 24 August 2010 in Gldani Prison #8 in Tbilisi.

August 23, 2010

The South Caucasus Network of HRD condemns the illegal arrest of peace protestors in Tbilisi

Members of the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders condemn the arrest of the participants of a peaceful flash mob action held on 14th of August on George W. Bush street in Tbilisi. The action was organized by young poets, Irakli Kakabadze, Shota Gagarin and Alex Chigviladze. Participants demanded renaming the street after the name of the famous American poet and humanists Walt Whitman and read poems by Whitman during the action.

July 30, 2010

Human Rights Trends in Georgia

Georgian Human Rights Defenders filed an alternative report to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The report assesses the human rights situation in Georgia, especially regarding the freedom of expression and media, freedom of assembly and manifestation, freedom of judiciary, the excessive use of force and the prohibition of torture, the issue of politically motivated arrests, labour rights, etc.

July 30, 2010

Re: political prisoners. Open letter to the Council of Europe and European Union officials

To: The President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Mevlüt Çavusoglu The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Thomas Hammarberg The President of the European Commission Mr. José Manuel Barroso The President of the European Parliament Mr. Jerzy Buzek

June 25, 2010

OTP concludes second visit to Georgia in context of preliminary examination

A delegation from the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court conducted a three-day visit, 22-24 June, to Georgia a State Party to the Rome Statute that created the Court. The main purpose of the visit was to gather additional information from the Georgian authorities on the on-going national investigation into crimes allegedly committed in the context of the August 2008 armed conflict in South Ossetia, Georgia.

June 13, 2010

Human Rights Advocates Program at Columbia University

The application for the 2011 session of the annual Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Columbia University is now available.

June 2, 2010

Shortcomings observed during local elections in Georgia

On May 30 local municipality elections were held throughout Georgia. Several national and international organizations monitored the elections throughout Georgia. The major focus from the international organizations was put on elections in the capital as Tbilisi elected its mayor for the first time. Although, according to the findings of those organizations conducting monitoring throughout the country, essential shortcomings during elections were observed in the regions, especially in minority settled areas.