Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia

Advertisement video-roll appeared on Georgian TV-Channels, which reports that Special Operative and Constitutional Security Departments of MIA were abolished, instead a new service – State Security Agency was established, etc. People shall conclude that the MIA refuses to continue faulty activities of the SOD and CSD and tries to create a new and healthy system. However, as the video-roll shows the MIA still continues to use funds of local budgets.

Several days ago, eco-migrants returned to Adjara from Tsalka by 16 mini-buses. Years ago they were resettled to Tsalka from Khulo and Shuakhevi districts because of natural disaster. The houses they were settled in in Tsalka district were not registered on them. Owners of those houses had moved to Greece years ago. However, the owners now returned from Greece and got their houses back. Homeless eco-migrants again appealed to Adjara government for help.

Authorities in breakaway Abkhazia have suspended issuing Abkhaz passports to ethnic Georgian residents of the region fearing that the process might result into, as some Abkhaz officials put it, “Georgianization of Abkhazia.”

On May 4 Facebook users protested violation of the right to privacy at Rustaveli Avenue.  A special group – No More Footage! – was created on Facebook.

Parliament, dominated by Georgian Dream coalition, overturned apresidential veto on judicial council bill on May 1 with 91 votes to 26.

Draft-amendments to the Gambling Law of Georgia could not receive 59 votes – necessary for quorum. 46 supporters vs 44 votes – it was results of the ballot at the parliamentary session of May 1. The debates on the draft-amendments lasted more than 1 hour and part of parliamentary majority also did not support it together with parliamentary minority members.

On April 30, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili answered questions of the MPs at the session of the Human Rights Parliamentary Committee.

Ossetian side raised issue of reconstruction of Tiriponi Channel at the 33th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism Meeting in Ergneti on April 16, 2013. Their representative Khokh Gagloiti spoke about the issue during the meeting.

Irma Mamasakhlisi has been bothered with pack of street dogs in her yard for many years already. She said one of their neighbors systematically feed street dogs and attracts more and more eventually. The woman has arranged lairs for dogs both in the yard and entrance; puts food for them straight in the entrance and people cannot safely enter their flats. The main problem about those dogs is that they are not vaccinated.

Statements of the chairwoman of Parliamentary Committee for Procedural Issues Irina Imerlishvili caused serious public resonance. On April 17, Irina Imerlishvili stated at the press-conference that huge sums were spent on the purchase of luxurious items for the president, his family members, relatives, acting or former senior officials; the funds were allocated from the budget of the State Special Protection Service (SSPS) and had Top Secret status.

A damning statement against UNM secretary general and former PM Vano Merabishvili, posted on a newly created Facebook account late on Monday evening purportedly by his ex-subordinate and former senior interior ministry official, Data Akhalaia, appears to be revealing signs of infighting within President Saakashvili’s UNM party.