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18 April 2017

Byzantine Politics Thrive in Soviet Georgia

This time IDFI published second report prepared after Poloff’s visit, which is available at the WIKILEAKS Public Library of US Diplomacy. The document describes political situation in Georgia at the beginning of 1991. The WIKILEAKS Public Library of US Diplomacy is the largest online collection of US open and secret diplomatic communications. As of 2013, it holds more than 2 million publications.

5 April 2017

Open Government Partnership Representatives Meet with Open Government Georgia Stakeholders

On April 5, 2017, national stakeholders of the Open Government Georgia met with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Support Unit Deputy Director Mr. Joe Powel and Director for Civil Society Engagement Mr. Paul Maassen. The workshop was to discuss Georgia’s vision, plans and expectations as the country assumes the chairmanship of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee in October 2017.

4 April 2017

Discussion on the Importance of Public Private Dialogue at the Stage of Policy Development

“Public participation is essential in the process of developing effective legislation. The only tool to evaluate the quality of Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) in the process of developing new draft laws is IDFI’s ongoing initiative” – said Tamar Kapianidze of USAID G4G in her opening remarks at the discussion titled “the Importance of Dialogue with the Private Sector During the Draft Law Concept Development Stage”.

31 March 2017

Gamsakhurdia Continues to Challenge Moscow

Today is the birthday of the first President of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Furthermore, on March 31, 1991 the referendum was held on the issue of Georgian statehood. The overwhelming majority of Georgians supported the restoration of the independence of Georgia. In connection to this date, IDFI continues to publish declassified archival documents. This time, the report sent form US Embassy in Moscow to US Department of State is released.

28 March 2017

Workshop on Regulations of Filtering, Blocking and Takedown of Illegal Online Content in Georgia

On March 27, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) organized a workshop for civil society organizations and the media representatives. The goal of the meeting was to identify problems related to Internet restriction, to encourage public discussions on the issues of blocking, filtering and removal of illegal content in Georgia, to promote dialogue between interested parties, and to collect feedback from civil society organizations before the initiation of a relevant draft law.

27 March 2017

Human Rights in Georgia: 1991

The document titled the “1991 Country Human Rights Report for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic” was sent from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to the State Department. The document discusses political and human rights situation in USSR and its member republics. The August coup and its aftermath, ending of 70-year communist rule, independence of Baltic States, killing innocent civilians in Riga and Vilnius, and Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is only a short list of topics discussed in the report. Below, IDFI provides information regarding Georgia of that period.

23 March 2017

Resolution of the European Freedom of Information Commissioners and Ombudspersons

On February 23-24, 2017, at an international conference held in Berlin, the European Freedom of Information (FOI) Commissioners and Ombudspersons signed a joint resolution calling on governments in Europe to protect freedom of information and strengthen the role of information commissioners and ombudspersons in their states.

21 March 2017

Discussion of the Ministry’s draft Strategy and Action Plan of Transparency and Integrity

On March 21, IDFI and the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure held a discussion of the Ministry’s draft Strategy and Action Plan of Transparency and Integrity. The main aim of the event was to present and gather feedback from non-governmental and international organizations on the draft document.

20 March 2017

The Letter of President of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia to United States Secretary of State James Baker

IDFI continues to publish declassified documents kept in US archives. This time, we are publishing a letter of the Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia to US Secretary of State James Baker dated December 12, 1991. This letter is a response to the criticism expressed by the US towards President Gamsakhurdia.

15 March 2017

Meeting of the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent Governance and Consultative Group

IDFI organized a meeting of the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open and Transparent Governance and the Consultative Group. Participants discussed the recommendations prepared by the Consultative Group in relation to the Open Parliament Georgia Action Plan 2017-2018.