Based on yesterday’s reports, court granted Kibar Khalvashi’s motion and froze shares of Rustavi 2 majority shareholder company Sakartvelo TV Ltd. that owns 51% of the shares, which may potentially result in suspension of operations of the most popular TV channel known for its criticism of the authorities. The said fact was preceded by a lawsuit filed by Kibar Khalvashi seeking to reclaim back his shares of Rustavi 2. By its August 5, 2015 decision, court simultaneously issued several interim orders in favor of the plaintiff and froze assets of Rustavi 2 TV Copmany as well as shares of the company shareholders. In addition, Director of Rustavi 2 was prohibited from discharging his authority as the company manager/executive. In view of the NGOs, the court’s decisions lacked substantiation and the interim orders were disproportional and unnecessary. 

GYLA helped protect rights of victims of domestic violence

Lawyers from offices of GYLA in Tbilisi and Kutaisi represented women victims of domestic violence. Restraining orders were issued at their request and perpetrators were prohibited from having any kind of relationship with the victims. 

This statement is issued in reaction to the arrest of Rustavi 2 TV Company supporters outside the parliamentary building for assaulting MP Davit Lortkipanidze of the faction Georgian Dream. The detainees were charged with hooliganism (Article 239 of the Criminal Code of Georgia), which constitutes serious crime and is punishable by deprivation of liberty from 4 to 7 years. Notably, reports indicate that whereabouts of the detainees were unknown for three ours, until Rustavi 2 reported that they were missing. They were sentenced to pre-trial detention as a measure of restraint. 

The Coalition is extremely concerned by the dangerous precedent set by Judge Urtmelidze’s decision to fire current management of Rustavi 2 to replace them with provisional management in order to ensure fair and adequate media coverage of events. 

GYLA expresses extreme concern over alleged police violence against Lawyer Giorgi Mdinaradze on November 8, and urges the Office of the Prosecutor to ensure prompt, comprehensive and objective investigation and prosecution of the incident. It has been reported that Lawyer Mdinaradze, who was at the fifth department of Vake-Saburtalo Police to represent his juvenile client, was allegedly subjected to physical violence by police officers. 

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) observed October 31, 2015 by-elections of the Parliament of Georgia in Martvili and Sagarejo. 

The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Mr. Juan Mendez undertook a visit to Georgia from 12 to 19 March 2015, to assess the impact of reforms instituted in Georgia on the situation of torture and ill-treatment in the country. During his visit Mr. Mendez met with representatives of the government and civil society, including the chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. 

GYLA releases this statement in reaction to the November 12 incident in Gori, when law enforcement authorities interfered with the right to peaceful assembly without a legal cause, in violation of the Georgian Constitution and applicable legislation. 

On 12 November, with coordination by the Open Society Georgia Foundation, five Georgian NGOs addressed their written statement to the justices of the International Criminal Court concerning the commencement of investigation into the war crimes and crimes against humanity possibly committed during the August 2008 war.