Public Defender of Georgia

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Georgia

Georgian Public Defender’s Office slams ‘illegal’ gig economy contracts

by Tata Shoshiashvili

•2 min read

The Office of the Georgian Public Defender considers the ‘partnership agreements’ granted to couriers employed by companies such as Bolt Food and others illegal under Georgian law. The Head of the Equality Department of Public Defender’s Office, Keti Shubashvili, told OC Media on Wednesday that their office was considering taking legal action to force Bolt Food to sign regular employment contracts with their couriers. Delivery companies such as Wolt, Glovo, and Bolt Food, as well as the Bolt

Salome Zurabishvili flanked by her daughter, Kethevane Gorjestani, and son, Teymouraz Gorjestani.

2018 Georgian Presidential Elections

Zurabishvili and family ‘receive death threats’ from opposition supporters

by OC Media

•3 min read

Georgian Dream–endorsed presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili and members of her family received SMS and audio death threats from ‘former military officers’, she announced on Monday. Messages including ‘I will put a hole in your head’ and ‘I will drink your blood’ were allegedly sent to from 9–11 November. At a press conference on Monday, the presidential candidate said she knew who the senders were but declined to reveal their identities, other than to describe them as ‘former m

Civil Development Agency (CiDA)

Georgian Public Defender: Devdariani sexually harassed three women

by OC Media

•3 min read

The Public Defender of Georgia has found that Zviad Devdariani, the former head of local non-governmental organisation CiDA, sexually harassed three women. Allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault from at least 10 women emerged in March after Devdariani was nominated for a spot on the Public Broadcaster’s board of trustees. Five women addressed the Public Defender independently in April and May claiming that Devdariani sexually harassed them. In a statement on 2 November, the

Georgia

Georgian creative work ‘censorship bill’ comes under fire

by OC Media

•4 min read

Georgia’s parliament is to discuss a controversial bill which critics say will enable censorship. The bill, initiated by MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream party, would allow the courts to ban the distribution of creative works if they ‘violate others’ rights’. A number of local rights groups and the Public Defender have warned that law is too broad. The bill’s authors, Eka Beselia and Levan Gogichaishvili from parliament’s Legal Issues Committee said that the need for the legislative amend

Georgia

Georgian Parliament elects new Public Defender

by OC Media

•2 min read

Georgian Parliament has elected the new Public Defender, with 96 votes to 5. Nino Lomjaria, who was nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, will succeed Ucha Nanuashvili. Nanuashvili is due to leave the post on 7 December after 5 years in office. Lomjaria was chosen over Giorgi Popkhadze, who received 20 votes against 27. Popkhadze, nominated by the Georgian Patriots parliamentary faction, was the only other candidate for the post,. A group of non-governmental organisations had o

Abkhazia

Georgian Public Defender: ‘Human rights deteriorating in Gali’

by OC Media

•3 min read

The human rights of communities in Abkhazia’s Gali District have been gradually deteriorating, according to a report by the Georgian Public Defender. The report focused on the effects of closures of border crossings. According to the report, discrimination against the population in Gali District, including the closure of crossing points, problems in receiving identity documents, and restrictions on Georgian medium education could result in people from Gali leaving Georgia. [Read on OC Me

Discrimination

Islamic literature confiscated at Georgian–Turkish border

by OC Media

•2 min read

Books about Islam, including the Quran, have been confiscated by border guards at the Sarpi customs checkpoint on the Turkish–Georgian border, according to an annual report by Georgia’s Public Defender. According to the report, Muslims carrying the books were delayed at the border, questioned about the purpose of their travel, their links with Turkey, and relations with other Muslims. From the cases filed to the Public Defender, they say it became evident that when crossing the Sarpi c