The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) with the assistance of the Open Society Foundation-Georgia has held a presentation of the results of the project “Public Information Database – www.opendata.ge”.
The director of the project Levan Avalishvili has presented to the audience the report of the project of 2011.
In 2011-2012 the Institute has sent 7339 requests of public information to 229 public institutions, including regions.
The statistical results of the project are as follows:
Sent– 7339 requests in total
At the event the Institute has named the most accountable and the most closed public institutions, as revealed by the project. The certificates for ensuring accessibility of public information in 2011 and the prizes were given to: the Legal Aid Service, Public Defender of Georgia, the Civil Service Bureau, Center of Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Trainings, Olympic Trainings Centre, Eurasian Transport Corridor Investment Center, National Statistics Office of Georgia, Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, the Service Agency of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, the Georgian National Tourism Agency, the State Care Agency, Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau, National Bank of Georgia.
The winner of the nomination for the best release of the public information within the 10 days period established by law was the Data Exchange Agency.
Among the regional public institutions the Municipal Boards of Dmanisi, Chokhatauri, Akhaltsikhe, Martvili, Telavi and the City Council of Rustavi received the certificates. The Administrations of the State Representative-Governors in the Samtskhe-Javakheti and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regions were also awarded.
The Ministry of Defense of Georgia was named as the most closed public institution. The Institute has addressed the Ministry of Defense with requests to release public information a number of times, but was refused to get information.
At the presentation the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the National Probation Agency were given certificates for the nomination “Limiting Access to Public Information in 2011”. Among the regions the certificates for limiting access to public information in 2011 were given to Administration of the State Representative-Governor in the Kvemo Kartli region and the Municipal Boards of Vani, Samtredia, Khoni, Tianeti, Tsageri, Chkhorotsku, Aspindza, Borjomi, Ninotsminda, Gardabani, Tetritkaro, Kaspi and Kareli.
The director of IDFI Giorgi Kldiashvili thanked the representatives of the public institutions for cooperation and expressed hope that the collaboration will become more intensive and fruitful in the future, so that it will assist the improvement of the level of accountability of public institutions and the development of freedom of information in Georgia.
At the event the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information has presented a new publication “Freedom of Information – Guidebook”.
The coordinator of the project, Sergi Jorbenadze talked about “Freedom of Information – Guidebook” and presented to the audience the content of the publication. The Guidebook is based on the practice of requests of public information of the Institute. Based on the specific examples the work describes the present situation in Georgia and gives the reader full comprehension of the existing practice of accessibility of public information. The publication defines the extent of public information and the rights of the citizens in terms of requesting public information. The goal of the Guidebook is to give the interested people relevant theoretical knowledge and help in correct understanding and using the legal acts connected with the accessibility of public information.
At the presentation the representatives of public institutions, non-governmental organization and media were present.
Subscribe to Our News
