Access to Public Information in Georgia, 2012-2013

News 12 September 2013
On September 12, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) with support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) has revealed the most accountable and the most  closed public institutions based on the public information disclosure data within the 2012 July to 2013   June period.  
 

The IDFI event was attended by Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, Ministries, public authorities, International organizations, DipCorps, representatives of media  and nongovernmental  sector.

 

During the welcome speech, the Prime Minister thanked  the OSGP and the IDFI for organizing the event and of their  efforts. “Today’s event is timely, interesting and important as we all together –    Government, nongovernmental stakeholders and media are holding the open discussions about the access of public information and transparency issues. Our joint efforts should prove that our  country is on the track of the democratic development”- citied the Prime Minister.

 

The project outcomes, the data of the practice of public information disclosure, comparative analysis of the tendencies concerning the public information access,  pre and post  Election Period of the  1st October 2012,  were presented. As the IDFI Chairman, Levan Avalishvili  indicated: “According to our data, release of public information has been improved after Parliamentary Elections on October 1, 2012. The 51% share of complete answers that existed before the elections has increased to 81% and the unanswered requests reduced from 30% to 11%”. The legislative mechanisms to promote the public information disclosure have been initiated by the Ministry of Justice at the event as well. 

 

The public institutions have been revealed in the framework of the Project “Public Information Database - www.opendata.ge“ with support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation.   

 
 
See the full report:
 
 
 

See the most accountable and closed public institutions:
 
 
The research covers period between July 2012 and June 2013. This makes it possible to analyse and compare practice and trends of access to public information before and after Parliamentary Elections on October 1, 2012.
 
During the project, in 2012-2013, a total of 5625 requests have been sent to 224 public institutions.
 
Among the 5625 requests there were:
 
 
 
 
 

Based on the statistics compiled during the project the public institutions were given awards for promoting and limiting access to public information.
 
Special awards in nomination “For Promoting Access to Public Information in 2012-2013” were given to the following public institutions:
 
Ministries and Offices of State Ministers:
 
•Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia
•Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia
•Ministry of Defense (for improvement)
•Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration
•Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
•Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Care of A/R Ajara
•Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of A/R Ajara
 
Other Public Institutions:
 
•Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
•Service Agency of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia
•Penitentiary and Probation Training Centre
•National Agency of Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation (for improvement)
•Georgian National Agency for Standards and Metrology
•The Unified National Body of Accreditation - Accreditation Center
•Civil Aviation Agency
•State Hydrography Service of Georgia
•State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities
•Health Insurance Mediation Service (for best compliance with timeframes)
•National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement
•Public Defender of Georgia
•Civil Service Bureau
 
Regions:
 
•Municipal Board of Kvareli
•Municipal Board of Dmanisi
•Municipal Board of Tkibuli
 
State Universities:
 
•Sokhumi State University
•Tbilisi State Medical University
 
Certificates were also given to those public institutions, which, according to the data of the project, have shown the least percentage of transparency.
 
Nomination: The Most Closed Public Institution in 2012-2013
 
•Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission
 
Certificates in the nomination: “For Limiting Access to Public Information in 2012-2013” are given to:
 
•Municipal Board of Bolnisi
•Municipal Board of Gardabani
•Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
 
New Informational Bulletin, “Access to Public Information in Georgia” prepared by IDFI has also been presented at the event. The bulletin is based on the practice public information requests of IDFI. Based on specific examples the report reflects existing reality in Georgia and gives comprehensive overview of the existing practice in terms of access to public information. 
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