I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.-Thomas Jefferson

Representatives of the ruling party allege that funds from the President’s Reserve Fund were spent for political party purposes, namely, for the benefit of the United National Movement. President’s administration, however, has its counter argument, stating that activities funded from the President’s Reserve Fund were not envisaged in 2013 state budget and nobody undertook obligation to cover such expenses.   

On the basis of the May 20, 2013 decision#343/11 of the Georgian National Communications’ Commission,  Kakha Baindurashvili became the owner of the 9% share of TV3.

As it is known, Mr. Baindurashvili is also the President of the LEPL Chamber of Commerce and Trade. The Chamber of Commerce and Trade, as a legal entity of public law, is an administrative body, and its President is an administrative body official. 

On November 20 -22, 2013  the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development held meeting with local NGOs and population in various regions of Georgia (Gori, Akhatsikhe, Kutaisi, Batumi, Ozurgeti). The event held within the scope of the project “Promoting Well-Managed Migration between EU and Georgia“ was aimed at increasing public awareness on migration issues. 

On November 6, 2013 the government of Georgia initiated the draft on Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories. GYLA welcomes the initiative of adopting the new law and the attempt to bring it in line with the international standards. 

The issue of procuring vehicles by public agencies was often discussed by public and media for the past several years. Procurement of luxurious cars by high state officials from the state budget was also criticized.  

State procurement which is linked to administration of budgetary funds by state agencies makes important impact on state’s economic development. As implemented international research reveals, the share of state procurements throughout the world in terms of GDP equals 10-15 %. Therefore, effective system is the key guarantee for purposeful and rational spending of budget funds.  

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association responds to the government’s position voiced by the Minister of Justice yesterday on November 28, 2013. As she reported the State Commission for Revision of Miscarriages of Justice will not be established at this point.

We consider inadmissible postponement of the formation of the Commission for an undefined period, as well as the reasons underpinning the decision, namely the excuse that for the economic and financial conditions the state is not ready to set up such a commission.  

On November 12, 2013, one of the issues on the agenda of a sitting of the High Council of Justice of Georgia was a statement of the former Supreme Court judge, Lali Lazarashvili. In this statement, Lazarashvili accused the Chairman of Supreme Court and members of Plenum of infringing her judicial independence and forcing her to leave the job in May 2010. This, according to the statement, was expressed in transferring Lazarashvili to the Chamber of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court against her will, repeatedly exerting pressure on her with the demand that she leaves the position and directly interfering with her judicial activity.  

As it is known to public, the government of Georgia submitted to the Parliament the draft, according to which amendment will be introduced to the law on “Cultural Heritage” and applicable regulation on cancellation of the status to the monument will be altered significantly.