On February 2, 2010 in the case of Kiladze v Georgia the European Court of Human Rights found that a ‘legislative void’ had prevented Klaus and Yuri Kiladze from obtaining compensation to which they were entitled as victims of political repression. The applicants were represented by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre.  It shall be noted that by now this is the first case of GYLA where judgment was delivered by the European Court.

By the noted judgment the European Court ruled in favor of the applicants and found a violation of Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to property). The applicants were awarded 4 000 Euros each for compensation of damages. The European Court’s judgment in the Kiladze case is remarkable, as it also requires the Georgian authorities to rapidly introduce the necessary legislative and administrative measures to ensure prompt realization of the judgment.

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) responds to the arrest of Lela Argvliani, Denis Aliokhin and Aza Shengelia who participated in the rally of IDPs on January 28. The arrest was performed by the officers of the Vake-Saburtalo Department of MIA Tbilisi Headquarters. GYLA criticizes the action of the police officers, who prevented GYLA lawyers from defending the arrested.

On February 4 the Tbilisi City Court refused to satisfy the complaint by journalists Mzia Amaglobeli and Eter Turadze. The applicants claimed the decision on a fine imposed on them at the Sarpi customs checkpoint to be declared void. On August 15, 2009 Eter Turadze and Mzia Amaglobeli legally crossed the Georgian-Turkish border to obtain newspaper materials.

Upon their return they passed all customs procedures without any complications; although, as soon as customs officers noticed that journalists were performing their professional activities, they ordered journalists to leave the customs territory, claiming that they were hindering customs procedures. The journalists requested legal grounds for their expulsion from the territory.  Afterward, they were fined for disobeying lawful order of customs officer.

On April 23 GYLA published the first interim report on the pre-election campaign violations.

GYLA is observing pre-election environment in Tbilisi and the following regions of Georgia:

Adjara, Guria, Imereti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Tbilisi.