The lawyer from GYLA’s Tbilisi office was representing defendant D.K.’s interests in the criminal case before the court. 
D.K. has been accused as per Article 19-178(3) of the Penal Code of Georgia, attempt of robbery by a group with advance agreement envisaging deprivation of liberty from 5 to 8 years.  

For the past period, various media outlets and social networks released information on the President of Georgia funding tuition fees and other expenses associated with studies for Georgian citizens enrolled in master's study programs abroad with a view to promote receiving of education in foreign countries. 

On August 23, 2013 NGOs working on electoral issues nominated Ms. Tamar Zhvania for the position of the chairperson of the Central Election Commission.

Ms. Tamar Zhvania is the manager of the UNDP project: Promoting Credible and Sustainable Electoral Institutions and Processes.

Ms. Zhvania has an extensive working experience on election-related responsible positions. For the past five years she has been in charge of UNDP Georgia’s electoral assistance program and supervised EU-UNDP joint project. She has worked on electoral issues abroad, including as international program manager in National Democratic Institute (NDI). Moreover, Ms. Zhvania has been a representative of international observation in different countries as part of the missions of OSCE/ODIHR, NDI and Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. Her electoral engagement starts from 2000 in the civil sector. In the period of 2004- 2007 she was an executive director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED).

The report of NGO Coalition concerning fulfillment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Georgia has been prepared to sum up the research carried out by NGO Coalition, including GYLA.  NGOs have united in the Coalition with a view to evaluate fulfillment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Georgia. 

As for 6 p.m. GYLA continues to  monitor the course of election day at 36 Election districs both, in Tbilisi and regions.

First of all, we would like to state, that as already reported at previous press-conferences, elections are taking place in a calm environment with no significant violations observed so far.

During the last several hours, following types of violations have been revealed by GYLA’s observers:

Georgian Young Lawyers' Association became a finalist of the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Competition held by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The price is awarded to a person or organization for distinguished service in human rights’ field. Human rights organizations operating in Europe and other countries are eligible to participate in the competition.

Today, on September 24, 2013 GYLA held presentation of the report “Rehabilitation Process beyond the Façade”. 

The document has been prepared on the basis of the Organic Law of Georgia “Election Code of Georgia,” “Law of Georgia on Broadcasting”, Resolution # 9 of August 15, 2012 of the Georgian National Communications’ Commission and the Resolution #42 of August 19, 2013 of the Central Election Commission.