On November 12, 2013, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development held presentation of the research “Circular Migration” prepared in the framework of the joint project “Promoting well managed migration between EU and Georgia”.

GYLA and Article 42 of the Constitution expressed interest to the information released by mass media which reported that Zaal Adamia, the deputy head of Rutstavi Police of the Ministry of Interior has abused physically Vasil Lomsadze. At the same time, Vasil Lomsadze applied to GYLA with similar allegations and asked for legal assistance. 

On October 27, 2013 Vasil Lomsadze was detained in Rustavi by police officers of the Rustavi police department No.2. He was accused as per Article 3531 of the Penal Code of Georgia (attack on police).  

Amendments to the ”Law of Georgia Promoting Prevention of Legalization of Illegal Incomes” and to the Law of Georgia on Attorneys were initiated in the Parliament of Georgia. The draft aims to bring Georgian legislation in line with recommendations of the “Financial Actions Task Force” (FATF).  To our regret, the process of draft preparation was not transparent enough. It was implemented without lawyers’ participation, consideration of their arguments and detailed examination of the document.  This week, the Parliament of Georgia plans to adopt the draft in the second reading. GYLA opines that Parliamentary discussions should be prolonged and adoption of the law at the second reading be postponed. 

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association voices its position in terms of Zugdidi incident. 

According to the released information, Kakha Gulordava abused physically Goga Anchabadze - patrol police officer. He cut off his ear, undressed him and left him in the vicinity of Zugdidi College. Mass media provides that the motive was Anchabadze’s attempt to rape Gulordava’s pregnant wife. Anchabadze tuned to be Gulordavas’s childhood friend and best man.  

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and “Tiflis Hamkari” assess negatively legislative initiative submitted by the government of Georgia to the Parliament introducing amendment to the Law on Cultural Heritage and altering significantly the applicable regulation on removal of the monument status.  

As it is known to public, according to Article 17 of the Law of Georgia on Cultural Heritage cancellation of a status shall be admissible only on the basis of a relevant opinion and if the listed property in question has obliterated or damaged to such a degree that has lost its historical or cultural value and cannot be restored, or if judging by scientific (methodological) criteria it has lost features for which it had been granted a monument status.  

On November 15, 2013 at the event dedicated to the International Day of Tolerance the National Minority Council under the Public Defender's Office granted GYLA the status of the supporter of tolerance for the its efforts in development of culture of tolerance in Georgia.  November 16 is the International Day of Tolerance celebrated from the second half of the XX century.  

On November 17, 2013 Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development held meeting with local NGOs and population in GYLA’s Telavi Office. 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.  

The state obligation to ensure individuals’ right to adequate housing is often violated in Georgia. The state policy to solve the extreme form of poverty - lack of shelter, has not been elaborated so far. Such persons even fall short to receive social vulnerability status, since the law requires indication of the permanent place of residence from them. For the past years media regularly released information about homeless deceased from winter frosts.  In view of state’s failure to carry out its obligation in terms of homeless persons, NGO “Identity” decided creation of the shelter with an intent to gain experience in the field and share it with state authorities in future. Along with shelter, the organization was supposed to offer nutrition, psychological, medical and legal aid and employment to beneficiaries.   

On November 18-19, 2013 GYLA and the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development arranged a training for the representatives of the small and medium business sector.  

The training was held in the framework of the EU funded project “Promoting Well-Managed Migration between EU and Georgia”. One of the project directions migration and development implies increase of the role of Georgian Diaspora in state development process and establishment of suitable conditions for sharing their knowledge-experience.  

The undersigned organizations disapprove of the draft submitted by the government of Georgia to the legislative branch. We call on the Parliament to refrain from adopting the initiative amending the Law of Georgia on Cultural Heritage and allowing cancellation of the status to the monument in exceptional conditions and in state necessities .