News

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.

The IDFI Evaluates New Mechanism of Monitoring of Asset Declarations

Georgian legislation provides for the obligation for public officials to submit their asset declarations annually. Declarations are available on the webpage of the Civil Service Bureau. The system is largely functional. However, there are several shortcomings associated to it. Namely, there is no mechanism in place to verify declared data and identify the cases when inconsistent or deliberately false information is indicated. Which will then result in the liability of public officials.

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.

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”.

IDFI March 2017 Newsletter

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. 

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.

The Global Principles on Protection of Freedom of Expression and Privacy

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.

Recommendations of IDFI on the Draft Anti-Corruption Action Plan for 2017-2018

IDFI welcomes the elaboration of new Anti-Corruption Action Plan for 2017-2018. Despite the comprehensive input from the responsible agencies IDFI identified several shortfalls with respect to the reflection of international commitments, derived from the GRECO and OECD-ACN evaluation reports and 2016 London Anti-Corruption Summit Country Statements.