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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.

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

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.

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

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.

On May 30, Georgian voters will elect 64 new municipal councils for a four-year term. The major focus of the local elections is made on contest in the capital city, Tbilisi, which will directly elect its mayor for the first time. National and international organizations are actively monitoring the pre-election situation in Georgia. During the last week of pre-election campaign, national and international organizations publish their reports on pre-election monitoring which highlights the main trends and violations during pre-election campaign.

On 27 May 2010 Amnesty International issued the annual report on human rights which dedicates the page to the description of the situation in Georgia. It says that none of the crimes committed during the war 2008 has been investigated appropriately and EUMM monitors do not have access to the Abkhazian and South Ossetian territory. The report concerns about the situation of IDPs as well. Despite the fact that they are accommodated, their social and economic rights are not ensured.

On May 4, in front of the Ilia State University, the young people gathered to protect the freedom of expression. The youth branch of the Public Orthodox Movement and Union of Orthodox Parents dispersed them.

On May 3rd, the international day of freedom of expression, the members of the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders in Georgia – Human Rights Center, Article 42, Center for the Protection of Constitutional Rights and Multinational Georgia – express their deep concern over the fact that journalists represent one those groups of human rights defenders in Georgia, who most often face pressure and intimidation from the authorities.