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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.

Freedom House published the survey of the freedom of the press in the world – “Freedom of the Press-2010.” Georgia is on the 126th place classified as partly free, followed by Honduras, Nepal and Paraguay. the Russian Federation is on the 175th place, classified as not free, followed by The Gambia. Georgia has moved forward with one rate but it still stays a country where media is “partly free”.

European companies are participating in the global trade in types of equipment widely used in torture or other ill-treatment, according to evidence presented in a new report by Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation released on March 16. In the full version of the report Georgia is also mentioned. More precisely, the report states that Georgia purchased torture tools from Germany and Czech Republic.

A 30-minute-long fake report by Imedi TV on March 13, as if Russian troops were advancing to Tbilisi, triggered panic and also wave of anger on the television station, which has a nationwide broadcasting.

The ICC Prosecutor is working with the Russian Federation to promote justice for all victims of the Georgian conflict – OTP and Russian Federation pledge co-operation at conclusion of Moscow visit.