News

Challenges of the Georgian Bureaucratic System (2011-2016)

The policy document studies the development and challenges of the Georgian state bureaucracy in 2011-2016 and its administrative expenses, including labor remuneration, work visit, representation, state vehicle and telecommunication expenses.

IDFI Weighs in on the Constitutional Claim of Giorgi Mamaladze and His Lawyers

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) observation on the constitutional claim "Citizens of Georgia -Giorgi Mamaladze, Giorgi Pantsulaia and Maia Zoidze vs. Georgian Parliament" prepared by the Constitutional Law Clinic of Free University of Tbilisi.

Transparency and Public Participation in Lawmaking Discussed by MPs and Experts in Tbilisi

Practical ways of ensuring a transparent and participatory legislative process were the focus of a workshop held by the Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia in cooperation with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), on 18 and 19 December 2017 in Tbilisi. 

International Anti-Corruption Day: Existing Challenges and Activities Implemented by IDFI

International Anti-Corruption Day: Existing Challenges and Activities Implemented by IDFI

Local Self-Government Index: Results for 2017

The overall results of the 2017 evaluation of Georgian municipalities were low. On the scale of 0 to 100%, the average result of all municipalities was only 21% (19% for city halls / municipal administrations and 24% for municipal councils).

Supreme Court of Georgia Declares Official Email Correspondence as Public Information – Legal Analysis by IDFI

The Supreme Court of Georgia granted the appeal of IDFI and ruled that official email correspondence sent or received by official email constitutes open public information and should be accessible to anyone interested.

National Assessment of Georgian Municipalities

Presentation of the Local Self-Government Index

On December 5, 2017, at the Hotel Holiday Inn, a presentation was held of the Local Self-Government Index and the first report of the national evaluation of the transparency and accountability of municipalities in Georgia. The event was opened by the Executive Director of Open Society Georgia Foundation Keti Khutsishvili, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.

Getting Serious (and Technical) About Procurement Corruption: The Transparent Public Procurement Rating Project

For corruption fighters, public procurement is notable for two reasons. One, it is damnably complex. Two, it is often permeated with corrupt deals.  The latter makes it a critical target of anticorruption policy, the former a tough nut to crack. The thicket of laws, regulations, standard bidding documents, and practices that govern procurement means civil society groups advocating counter corruption measures are often at sea.  Lacking expertise on this bewildering set of rules, they can do little more than campaign in general terms for reform, urging steps like “greater transparency” or “tougher penalties” for corrupt activities.

Accessible Parliament for All - Concept on Adaption of the Parliamentary Building in Tbilisi

On November 28, 2017, as part of the Global Legislative Openness Week, the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent Governance held a meeting titled Accessible Parliament for All and presented plans to adapt the Tbilisi building to the needs of the people with disabilities.