Research

4 March 2015

Supporting and Monitoring of the Transition to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in Georgia - Project Implementation Report

A new state policy and strategy of Digital Switchover, that is more media interests adjusted, was adopted as a result of IDFI’s activities, carried out within the framework of the project Supporting and Monitoring of the Transition to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in Georgia, supported by Open Society - Georgia Foundation (OSGF). Action plan of Digital Switchover was approved in the beginning of 2014.

11 February 2015

Access to Information in Georgia 2014

The results of the report cover the period between October 2013 and December 2014. Within the framework of the project a total of 7 878 FOI requests have been sent to 308 public institutions during the given period.

12 December 2014

Information on the Persons Held Responsible for the Facts of Torture in the Prisons is Still Inaccessible

After the footage of torture from prison cells was published in 2012, the belief that the facts of torture and inhuman, degrading treatment was well implemented practice in penitentiary institutions was inculcated in the society. This was added inter alia by the public statements of high officials currently in office, highlighting the existing problems. Nevertheless, till to date society has no comprehensive information on the results and scale of the investigations.

3 December 2014

International Survey of Information Commissioners

The latest International Survey of Information Commissioners, conducted by the Centre for Freedom of Information, has been published (17 November 2014).

27 November 2014

Meeting the Obligation to Disclose Public Information by the Public Entities (GYLA)

The research enshrines data received from 17 public entities and covers the period of January the 1st, 2013 to August the 31st 2014. Precisely, the practice of responding to the FOI requests implemented by the Parliament of Georgia, the Ministries as well as by the Supreme Court of Georgia was assessed;

22 November 2014

Practice of Proactive Disclosure of Public Information in State Agencies

Within the auspices of the project, conducted during the period of September-October 2014 IDFI researched to what extent 133 public entities fulfilled their obligation deriving from The Decree on the Electronic Request and Proactive Disclosure of Public Information.

22 November 2014

International Practice of Proactive Disclosure

Within the framework of the project, “Improving the Practice of Compliance with the Proactive Disclosure of Public Information Obligation by State Authorities of Georgia”, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) prepared case studies of three foreign countries (Australia, Canada, Italy), describing and analysing their experience of publication of public information online, on the websites of public institutions.

7 October 2014

The Rationale Behind Stricter Visa Regulations in Georgia

Until recently Georgia has exercised one of the most liberal migration policies in the world (visa free stay for up to 360 days, the possibility to apply for the visa on the directly on the border and etc), nevertheless it will not come as a surprise to state that the country has gradually started to adopt restrictive immigration policy. IDFI decided to look into the rationale of amending the migration policy, and on September 12th reffered to the government of Georgia with the FOI request to indicate the international agreements, as well as the research conducted and/or statistical data obtained based on which the reform was conducted. This article based on the official documents received from the government of Georgia, sums up the arguments of adopting a restrictive visa regime in Georgia and informs the reader on the process of adopting the applicable legislation.

27 September 2014

International Survey on Governmental Online Transparency

IDFI (Institute for Development of Freedom of Information) was involved in international monitoring of governmental online openness and transparency, initiated by the nongovernmental organisation, Freedom of Information Foundation, based in Russia

16 September 2014

Internet Freedom in Georgia – Report N3-4

In attempt to have clear and comprehensive picture about current developments regarding internet and e-governance in Georgia, this report examines statistical data on internet users, major plans and efforts of government to improve access to internet and electronic services among citizens. Moreover, it covers international reports regarding Georgia, displaying performance of the country in terms of e-governance and other related issues. Finally, the study touches upon the issues of online media and protection of users’ rights.