Blog
Corruption Perceptions Index 2010: What Georgia's 68th rank tells us
Georgia ranks 68th in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2010, published on October 26. Georgia’s score is 3.8 on a scale from 10 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt).
Freedom of information regulation not binding for courts?
When an individual or an organization like ours sends an official request for information to a Tbilisi court, the response these days is likely to be along the following lines: “The information you have requested requires a systematization and the development of an archive of cases, which requires a lot of time. The court operates on the basis of current legislation.
MRA still lacks communication mechanisms for reaching out to local NGOs
At a recent meeting of the NGO IDP network “Synergia”, we learned that local NGOs – especially those based outside Tbilisi – still have very little access to news about government strategies and new policy documents, despite a self-professed demand among the group for better information about these issues and recent efforts by t
Criminal investigation into GEL 1.5 million worth of missing irrigation pipes in Krtsanisi
Update 20 Oct. 2010: We have been informed that about a week ago, investigators arrested two of the auction winners. According to the investigators, Rustavi City Hall employees are also being questioned and soon a decision regarding whether to charge them will be made. A year ago, Rustavi city hall auctioned off irrigation pipes in Krtsanisi.
Mestia: Questions Remain After Incidents Involving Opposition Activists
A number of incidents that involved outspoken government critics in Mestia this spring and summer have stifled opposition voices in Svaneti during a period of intense government investments into the region’s tourism potential. Five months after opposition party candidates were threatened by local officials and paramilitary forces, nobody has been held accountable for the incident.
Tbilisi City Council takes an interest in IDP evictions, but news agency’s inaccurate information raises false hopes
An article published two days ago by Interpress News (access required) inaccurately reported that the Tbilisi City Council had secured assurance from the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation (MRA) that IDPs
False alarm over IDP electricity subsidies underscores continuing confusion about benefits
In late August we received a call from an IDP who claimed that the new settlements were no longer receiving electricity subsidies.
Jury Trials: Further Thoughts
My post on jury trials generated some very useful discussion; I'd like to post some of the questions I received to clarify what I think about jury trials.
