Rule of Law and Human Rights

10 February 2021

Guðmundur Andri Ástráðsson v. Iceland: Breach of Domestic Law on Judicial Appointments Violated the Right to a Fair Trial

The case of Guðmundur Andri Ástráðsson v. Iceland, decided on 1 December 2020, provided the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR or the Court) with an opportunity to refine the concept of a “tribunal established by law”. This case addresses the issue of judicial appointments and the way the irregularities in this process can lead to a violation of the right to a fair trial.

28 January 2021

The Importance of Personal Data Protection in the E-Governance Process

E-governance is related to the introduction of technology and innovations in government institutions. E-governance is the public sector's use of information and communication technologies with the aim of improving service and information delivery, encouraging citizen participation in the decision-making process, and making government more accountable, transparent and effective.

10 December 2020

IDFI Delivered a Statement at the Pre-Session of the UN Universal Periodic Review

On December 8, 2020, the pre-session of the 3^rd cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review was held in a virtual format where the representatives of non-governmental organizations and the public defender’s office informed the Permanent Missions to the UN about the human rights situation in Georgia.

7 December 2020

The Draft Decree Regulating the Process of Selection of Supreme Court Judicial Candidates by the High Council of Justice is Problematic

The Coalition is reacting to the draft decree, which was published on the High Council of Justicewebpage on December 1, 2020. The decree is supposed to regulate the process of selection of Supreme Court judges by the High Council of Justice. The Coalition believes that the proposed rules do not ensure an open and transparent process. They also considerably limit the ability of the Council members to actively engage in interviews and pose questions to candidates at their own discretion.

1 December 2020

EMC and IDFI on Challenges Related to the Independent Investigative Mechanism

It’s been one year since the independent investigative mechanism became effective and there are still insufficient guarantees of its institutional and functional independence. The establishment of this Service was crucial in the fight against torture and ill-treatment in the country, however, further steps are needed to strengthen the State Inspector’s Service.

20 November 2020

Covid-19 and Constitutional Review: Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Constitutional Court of Georgia

Beginning with November 9, 2020, a curfew was enacted in 7 major cities of Georgia. This decision by the Government of Georgia was met with sharp political and judicial criticism.

4 November 2020

Case statistics of the European Court of Human Rights Concerning Georgia

Georgia signed the European Convention on April 27, 1999, which entered into force on May 20, 1999. The European Court of Human Rights heard a total of 104 cases against Georgia in 1999-2019. As of July 2020, Georgia has 545 pending cases

30 October 2020

The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary Reacts to the XXVIII Extraordinary Judicial Conference

The XXVIII extraordinary judicial conference is scheduled for October 30, 2020. According to the agenda, the conference is supposed to appoint 2 judge members of the High Council of Justice of Georgia, including the Council Secretary.

27 October 2020

Covid-19 and Sanctions: Systemic problem of constitutionality

The Parliament of Georgiaundermines its constitutional mandate and thus puts the constitutionality of the measures of responsibility introduced for preventing the spread of Covid-19 under question.

20 October 2020

IDFI Hold a Presentation of the Project – Monitoring of the Covid-19-related Public Spending and the State of Human Rights

On October 20, 2020, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), with the support from the European Union (EU) held a presentation of the project - Monitoring Covid-19 related public spendings and human rights protection during the state of emergency and after.