The News in Brief
Wednesday, December 24
Carl Bildt comments on extension of EUMM in Georgia
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has posted a comment on the extension of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. “The EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia is of fundamental importance for stability of the country and region. Now extended," Carl Bildt posted on Twitter.
The European Council extended the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission by two years till December 16, 2016. Kestutis Jankauskas, a Lithuanian, was appointed as the new chief of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia last week. (IPN)
Prison conditions in Geguti criticized by ombudsman
The Georgian ombudsman has raised the alarm about bad conditions at Geguti Prison in western Georgia.
According to a new report, the safety regulations in place are not sufficient to prevent violence between the prisoners, and there is no program to help avert inmates from committing suicide.
The Ombudsman’s Office on Monday said there is a long waiting line to see the doctor at the prison. Some patients are not offered proper treatment, and in the observation room staff are working without sanitary standards.
Prisoners who are serving shorter sentences are not allowed physical contact with their family, and some prisoners who have been moved to Geguti from prisons in the east of the country are unable to make proper use of their right to have visitors because of the long travel distance.
Another problem pointed out in the report is that not all prisoners have four square meters of area, and that the ventilation system is damaged.
There are also bad conditions in the prison yard and inmates have no access to sports grounds. There is also an insufficient supply of goods in the prison shop. (DFwatch)
What guarantees have the journalists remaining in Maestro received?
The journalists who did not leave Maestro released a statement last night.
According to them, the leadership reaffirmed once again that their news and editorial policy priorities remain unchanged.
"We have received assurances that the news program" Nine "will be broadcasted as usual, as to Koka Kandiashvili, the decision about him has not been taken yet.
In any case, even if his program is broadcasted by Maestro, it will be prepared by an independent studio, which has nothing to do with the channel,” the statement says.
Staff members of Maestro TV channel left the media outlet on December 22. Among them is the anchor of the main news program Nino Zhizhilashvili, who also served as deputy director of the channel’s news field.
Several former Maestro staff members linked the reshuffle to Koka Kandiashvili’s possible appearance to the channel. Kandiashvili took certain positions in the communication direction of the government. (Rustavi 2)
Georgian Judge Elected As Vice-President of CEPEJ
On December 11-12, 2014, in Strasbourg, the Judge of Tbilisi Appeal Court, Irakli Adeishvili was elected as Vice-President of CEPEJ.
“The CEPEJ is composed of experts from all the 47 member States of the Council of Europe and is assisted by a Secretariat. The Council is guided by the bureau, which is composed of the President, the Vice-President and two members of the Bureau. Georgian Judge already had been a member of the Bureau. This time Mr. Adeishvili is elected as the Vice-President by the colleagues.
The aim of the CEPEJ is the improvement of the efficiency and functioning of justice in the member States, and the development of the implementation of the instruments adopted by the Council of Europe to this end. (Frontnews)
GYLA chooses new chairman
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) chooses the new Chairman today as the term in office of Kakha Kojoridze has expired.
Still not known who will be named as the candidates but according to the internal regulations the candidate must be chosen from the members of Association.
Kakha Kojoridze says that he isn’t going to take part in elections. He says that he will continue his work in the public sector. (Rustavi 2)
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has posted a comment on the extension of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. “The EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia is of fundamental importance for stability of the country and region. Now extended," Carl Bildt posted on Twitter.
The European Council extended the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission by two years till December 16, 2016. Kestutis Jankauskas, a Lithuanian, was appointed as the new chief of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia last week. (IPN)
Prison conditions in Geguti criticized by ombudsman
The Georgian ombudsman has raised the alarm about bad conditions at Geguti Prison in western Georgia.
According to a new report, the safety regulations in place are not sufficient to prevent violence between the prisoners, and there is no program to help avert inmates from committing suicide.
The Ombudsman’s Office on Monday said there is a long waiting line to see the doctor at the prison. Some patients are not offered proper treatment, and in the observation room staff are working without sanitary standards.
Prisoners who are serving shorter sentences are not allowed physical contact with their family, and some prisoners who have been moved to Geguti from prisons in the east of the country are unable to make proper use of their right to have visitors because of the long travel distance.
Another problem pointed out in the report is that not all prisoners have four square meters of area, and that the ventilation system is damaged.
There are also bad conditions in the prison yard and inmates have no access to sports grounds. There is also an insufficient supply of goods in the prison shop. (DFwatch)
What guarantees have the journalists remaining in Maestro received?
The journalists who did not leave Maestro released a statement last night.
According to them, the leadership reaffirmed once again that their news and editorial policy priorities remain unchanged.
"We have received assurances that the news program" Nine "will be broadcasted as usual, as to Koka Kandiashvili, the decision about him has not been taken yet.
In any case, even if his program is broadcasted by Maestro, it will be prepared by an independent studio, which has nothing to do with the channel,” the statement says.
Staff members of Maestro TV channel left the media outlet on December 22. Among them is the anchor of the main news program Nino Zhizhilashvili, who also served as deputy director of the channel’s news field.
Several former Maestro staff members linked the reshuffle to Koka Kandiashvili’s possible appearance to the channel. Kandiashvili took certain positions in the communication direction of the government. (Rustavi 2)
Georgian Judge Elected As Vice-President of CEPEJ
On December 11-12, 2014, in Strasbourg, the Judge of Tbilisi Appeal Court, Irakli Adeishvili was elected as Vice-President of CEPEJ.
“The CEPEJ is composed of experts from all the 47 member States of the Council of Europe and is assisted by a Secretariat. The Council is guided by the bureau, which is composed of the President, the Vice-President and two members of the Bureau. Georgian Judge already had been a member of the Bureau. This time Mr. Adeishvili is elected as the Vice-President by the colleagues.
The aim of the CEPEJ is the improvement of the efficiency and functioning of justice in the member States, and the development of the implementation of the instruments adopted by the Council of Europe to this end. (Frontnews)
GYLA chooses new chairman
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) chooses the new Chairman today as the term in office of Kakha Kojoridze has expired.
Still not known who will be named as the candidates but according to the internal regulations the candidate must be chosen from the members of Association.
Kakha Kojoridze says that he isn’t going to take part in elections. He says that he will continue his work in the public sector. (Rustavi 2)