30.09.2008 - Source: Council of Europe - Commissioner for Human Rights

Brief report on human rights situation (right to return, rights of displaced persons, demining, protection against lawlessness, detainees, protection of human rights) ("Special Mission to Georgia including South Ossetia - Summary of Findings [CommDH(2008)30]") [ID 25044]

Document(s): Open document

10.09.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

War still having serious impact on freedom of expression ("War still having serious impact on freedom of expression") [ID 24632]

Document(s): Open document

14.08.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Civilians in Georgia remain vulnerable to serious human rights abuses; reported heavy civilian casualties in Tskhinvali and Gori; according to UNHCR, around 100,000 people displaced by the conflict; Georgians targets of violent attacks in North Ossetia and in Moscow ("Suffering of civilians must stop and abuses must be investigated [EUR 56/007/2008]") [ID 24444]

Document(s): Open document

02.07.2008 - Source: Freedom House

Annual survey of political rights and civil liberties 2007 ("Freedom in the World 2008") [ID 23593]

Document(s): Open document

19.06.2008 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Annual report on the situation of human rights defenders ("Steadfast in Protest; Annual Report 2007"), Autor: The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders [ID 23480]

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Annual Report 2008 (covering 2007) ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23304]

Document(s): Open document

12.03.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

U.S. Department of State’s annual human rights report says respect for freedom of speech, press, assembly and political participation worsened in Georgia ("‘Respect for Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly Worsened’ - U.S. Report") [ID 22567]

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: Minority Rights Group International

Annual report on current situation of minorities ("State of the World's Minorities 2008") [ID 22680]

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Annual report on human rights situation in 2007 ("World Report 2008") [ID 22283]

Document(s): Open document

30.10.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Amnesty International is urging the government of Georgia to take immediate action to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC), which published its concluding observations on 30 October 2007 ("The government should implement recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee as a matter of priority [EUR 56/009/2007]") [ID 21481]

Document(s): Open document

30.10.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Briefing to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (domestic violence against women, lethal use of firearms by police and prison officials, failure of independent investigations, torture or inhuman treatment, impunity for crimes) ("Briefing to the United Nations Human Rights Committee [EUR 56/008/2007]") [ID 21485]

Document(s): Open document

15.10.2007 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Report on the human rights situation (repression of the opposition, independence of the judiciary, right to a fair trial, torture and inhumane and degrading treatment, freedom of expression, minorities, refugees and IDPs, conscription, children's rights, right to private property); conclusion that general human rights situation declines ("Human Rights violations in Georgia") [ID 21478]

Document(s): Open document

26.09.2007 - Source: UK Home Office

Guidelines and information on general, political and human rights situation (minority ethnic and religious groups, involvement with former Shevardnadze government, organised crime and corruption, prison conditions) ("Operational Guidance Note; Georgia") [ID 21237]

Document(s): Open document

18.09.2007 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Annual report on hate crimes (incidents of hate-motivated violence and measures to prevent hate) ("Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region: Incidents and Responses: Annual Report for 2006") [ID 22041]

Document(s): Open document

21.07.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tbilisi: Police force residents of building in capital's downtown to vacate their flats; incident triggers more allegations of abuse of property rights by authorities ("Dwellers Forced Out from Homes") [ID 20666]

Document(s): Open document

11.07.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Opposition lawmakers say parliament ignores report pointing out human rights violations in country ("Ombudsman’s Report ‘Ignored’") [ID 20634]

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Violations of human rights continue to be an important concern in several areas; government has introduced some measures to address the issue of human rights abuses in the law enforcement system ("Nations in Transit 2007") [ID 20550]

For details please refer to the original document

"Violations of human rights in Georgia continue to be an important concern in several areas. Abuse of suspects and prisoners in the Georgian law enforcement system has been the most challenging human rights problem since independence. The problem has persisted since the Rose Revolution, though its character has changed. There has been a dramatic reduction in the occurrence of torture in pretrial detention facilities (a formerly common practice); however, there have been serious cases and allegations of abuse by law enforcement officers in arrests, as well as abuse of prisoners in penitentiary facilities. This may be linked to a crackdown on organized crime announced by the government in December 2005.[...]  

The government has introduced some measures to address the issue of human rights abuses in the law enforcement system. In 2005 and 2006, divisions responsible for monitoring human rights protection were instituted in the Office of the State Prosecutor, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Penitentiary Department."

Document(s): Open document

25.05.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Ombudsman's new human rights report mentions property rights abuses, misuse of power by police and problems in judiciary; while government tries to downplay significance of report, opposition steps up criticism ("Opposition Steps Up Criticism, Amid Ombudsman’s Report") [ID 20124]

Document(s): Open document

26.04.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Human rights report addresses human rights violations, judiciary problems, human rights abuses by various governmental structures, excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies, lack of protection of property rights ("Ombudsman Reports on Human Rights") [ID 19819]

Document(s): Open document

27.03.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Positive developments were achieved in the fight against corruption and organized crime; concern over many government practices because reform measures were not compatible with international human rights standards ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2007 (Events of 2006)") [ID 19522]

"Pursuing solutions to the persisting serious economic problems and questions related to territorial integrity, the West-oriented government of President Mikhail Saakashvili continued to carry out farreaching reforms in most spheres of political, social and economic life. While positive developments were achieved for example in the fight against corruption and organized crime, concern was voiced by local and international observers over many government practices, which were often guided more by political convenience than by principles of democracy, respect for human rights and rule of law; in practice, many of the measures aimed at reforms were not compatible with European and other international human rights standards to which Georgia committed itself after the “Rose Revolution.”"

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

The government's human rights record improved in some areas, although serious problems remained, such as excessive use of force by law enforcement officers, torture and mistreatment of detainees, increased abuse of prisoners and impunity ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19320]

"The government's human rights record improved in some areas during the year, although serious problems remained. While the government took significant steps to address these problems, there were some reports of deaths due to excessive use of force by law enforcement officers, cases of torture and mistreatment of detainees, increased abuse of prisoners, impunity, continued overuse of pretrial detention for less serious offenses, worsened conditions in prisons and pretrial detention facilities, and lack of access for average citizens to defense attorneys. Other areas of concern included reports of government pressure on the judiciary and the media and - despite a substantial reduction due to reforms led by the president - corruption.  

During the year the government took significant steps to improve the human rights situation. One notable example was its stepped up effort to combat human trafficking, which included adoption and implementation of a new antitrafficking law that resulted in 16 convictions of traffickers. The government also continued a broad reform of the justice system to improve the investigation and prosecution of some law enforcement abuses and increase the independence of the judiciary.  

De facto authorities in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia remained outside the control of the central government; ceasefires were in effect in both areas, although incidents of violence, including deaths, occurred in both areas. In both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, deprivation of life, arbitrary arrest, and detention continued to be problems."

Document(s): Open document

13.02.2007 - Source: Council of Europe - European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Summary: Situation of ethnic and religious minorities, refugees and IDPs ("Second report on Georgia: Adopted on 30 June 2006 and made public on 13 February 2007 [CRI(2007)2]") [ID 19171]

"Ethnic minorities‘ lack of knowledge of Georgian is a major obstacle to their integration and hampers their access to information, public services, education and employment. They continue to feel like second-class citizens, take little part in the country‘s public and political affairs and come up against a series of problems which the state must help them to resolve. Members of non-traditional religious minorities can still be exposed to physical attacks on them or their property. They also encounter administrative and other barriers to religious worship. A number of shortcomings must be remedied in asylum law and practice. Refugees from Chechnya are subject to illegal treatment on the part of law enforcement officials. Those who live in the Pankisi region suffer difficult living conditions. The authorities are insufficiently aware of the situation of some minority groups such as Roma and migrants, and do not monitor it sufficiently. Progress towards resolving the issue of the return of Meskhetian Turks to Georgia is too slow. Persons displaced as a result of armed conflict in the country continue to experience difficult living conditions and suffer from a lack of integration. Stereotypes and prejudice liable 10 cause discrimination persist among the majority population, particularly against ethnic minorities, non-traditional religious minorities, refugees from Chechnya and Meskhetien Turks."

Document(s): Open document

02.2007 - Source: Human Rights Centre

Report on the human rights situation (legislative changes, mass media and freedom of speech, excessive use of force, torture and ill-treatment in prisons, judiciary, impunity, pressure on NGOs, right to assembly and demonstration, militarisation, political prisoners and children) ("The Velvet Downfall; Human Rights Situation in Georgia in 2006") [ID 20421]

Document(s): Open document

09.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Annual survey of political rights and civil liberties 2005 ("Freedom in the World 2006") [ID 17301]

Document(s): Georgia
Abkhazia

14.07.2006 - Source: BBC News

Public Defender Sozar Subari delivers report to parliamentarians about human rights record in Georgia (July 2005 until beginning of 2006) ("Ombudsman Reports MPs on Human Rights") [ID 15721]

"[...] Public Defender Sozar Subari noted that despite some positive trends – involving fight against criminal bosses, huge concerns remain regarding the human rights in the penitentiary system. He stressed on the March 27 Tbilisi prison incident and said that the riot was provoked by the prison officials. “The prison riot was spontaneous, as it was caused by beating up several prisoners by special troops and Bacho Akhalaia [chief of the Penitentiary System] was present there during the incident,” the Public Defender said, adding that police used excessive force while dealing with the riot. He said that along with 7 inmates, who died as a result of the prison riot, 26 more prisoners died in the penitentiary system in one year. In his speech Sozar Subari noted that he does not believe in an official version of Sandro Girgvliani high-profile murder case, which says that the crime was a result of a spontaneous quarrel between the victim and officers from the Interior Ministry’s Department of Constitutional Security (DCS). But he also said that it will be very difficult to prove that higher level officials were behind the murder. He stressed on the fact that chief of the DCS Data Akhalaia, who is suspected by the Girgvliani family of being behind this murder case, is not formally sacked but only suspended from the office. Sozar Subari recalled President Saakashvili’s statement made last June, when he dismissed by-then Finance Minister Valery Chechelashvili after several officials from the tax department were arrested for corruption charges. The President said at that time, although he is sure that Chechelashvili himself is not involved in the corruption, “but it is not enough, it is important also not to have corrupt officials around you.” He said that if Chechelashvili was dismissed only because his subordinates were involved in corruption, at least the same measure should apply to Data Akhalaia. [...] In his speech Sozar Subari welcomed the ongoing reforms in the judicial system, however noted that the judiciary fails to stand criticism, as “the court is not independent.” [...]"

Document(s): Open document

07.2006 - Source: Freedom House

There is no political party representing national minorities; many members of minorities do not speak Georgian, which creates many integration problems; it is hoped that restruction of roads to isolated regions could help solving this problem ("Countries at the Crossroads 2006") [ID 15789]

"Approximately 16 percent of Georgia's population is composed of ethnic minorities, whose rights are constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected in the territories under the government's control. Yet, less than 3 percent of the candidates in the March 2004 elections belonged to a national minority group. Furthermore, no relevant political party represents national minorities, although some parties include minority candidates on their lists. Minorities frequently find it difficult to participate in the political process due to insufficient knowledge of the state language. Even though the government organizes free language courses, many members of minorities do not speak Georgian, which in turn creates employment difficulties, particularly for persons wishing to work for the state. Some experts argue that the lack of language skills could be partially attributed to the physical isolation of many groups. For example, roads connecting some of these regions with the rest of Georgia are in very poor condition, often worse than the roads connecting the same regions to Armenia; this contributes to the export of more agricultural products from these areas to that country than to the rest of Georgia. In order to alleviate the problem, the state allocated a special budget in 2005 for the rebuilding of several roads. The government also created a number of initiatives aimed at reintegrating minorities into mainstream Georgian culture. For instance, the administration has provided for rebroadcasts of Georgian television news programs in translation and free legal consultations for ethnic Armenian and Azeri populations in certain regions. Furthermore, in order to quell persisting societal prejudices, Saakashvili has urged media not to report the ethnic origins of criminal suspects. Ethnic groups in Georgia, including Armenians, Abkhaz, Ossetians, Russians, and Greeks, are permitted to learn at schools in their respective native languages."

Document(s): Open document

24.03.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Several opposition parties signed memorandum addressing human rights violations in Georgia, particularly on the cases of murdering people by law enforcement agencies, torture and insult, political repressions, oppression of mass media and journalists ("Mehrere Oppositionsparteien verfassen Memorandum zu Menschenrechtsverletzungen in Georgien; insbesondere zu Ermordungen von Personen durch Exekutivorgane, Folter und Misshandlung, politischer Unterdrückung, Unterdrückung von Medien und Journalisten") [#48011],  [ID 4526]

Document(s): Open document

28.06.2004 - Source: Council of Europe - Secretary General

Report focused on judicial system and law-enforcement agencies, fight against corruption and impunity, freedom of the media, conscience and religion ("Compliance with commitments and obligations: the situation in Georgia [SG/Inf(2004) 19]") [#24089],  [ID 4852]

"Executive Summary

Over the last 6 months, Georgia has gone through very radical changes, with 2 general parliamentary elections, a Presidential election, return of part of the territory under the jurisdiction of the central authorities and regional elections there. Substantial constitutional amendments have changed the respective competences of the various powers, notably of the executive and legislative branches. All these changes have taken place without violence. The final status of Adjara and the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia when reintegrated under the authority of Georgian authorities remain top priorities for the new Government and CoE/Venice Commission assistance will be required. In addition, further constitutional reforms are expected for which CoE/Venice Commission timely expertise should be mobilised.

· Functioning of democratic institutions at all levels and elections: All observers have concluded that, in spite of serious shortcomings (in particular, as regards the voters' lists), the 28 March repeat parliamentary elections constitute the best elections Georgia has organised since independence and a serious step forward as regards respect of European norms and standards for free and fair elections. Reforms regarding the composition of the central electoral commission and the lowering of the election threshold should follow with the assistance of the Venice Commission.

· Judiciary and law enforcement: CoE assistance in finalising the draft Code on Criminal Procedure to ensure compatibility with CoE standards and notably ECHR should take place during the summer months; new laws on police and the General Prosecutor's Office will be prepared after the adoption of the new code of criminal procedure also with CoE assistance. Proper coordination with the EU Rule of Law Mission (EUJUST-THEMIS) will be necessary to secure synergies and optimal use of resources. Human rights training of police forces, in particularly in the region of Adjara, has been identified as a priority area of cooperation with the CoE in the near future.

· Fight against corruption and impunity: Authorities have put an end to the feeling of impunity and have embarked upon a very active campaign against corruption and organised crime. The recent ratification of the Anti money-laundering European Convention is of particular importance in this context. However, this welcome active fight should fully respect the principles of human rights and rule of law (in particular, as regards presumption of innocence, banning of any form of violence and full respect of the principle of legality of procedure). Profound systemic reforms to eradicate corruption at all levels in compliance with GRECO recommendations are further needed.

· Freedom of the media: Media pluralism and independence, a major achievement of Georgia's democratic development, should be respected and reinforced, in particular with the creation of a public broadcasting system in accordance with CoE norms.

· The reform of local government and territorial organisation of the country, including the election of all mayors, the preparation of the forthcoming local elections and the creation of regions are among the priorities for the new government .

· Freedom of conscience and religion: cases of religious violence have dramatically diminished in the recent period. CoE was requested by Georgian authorities to pay particular attention to the issue of registration of religious communities and churches and provide its assistance."

Document(s): Open document