Day: March 28, 2024

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a CoE member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.”

Commissioner Mijatović expressed her concern, stressing that the proposed amendments are “reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights.”

The Commissioner also noted that the draft laws represent “the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections”, stressing that this should not happen in a democratic society. She underlined that LGBTI people continue to be the target of hate crimes and discrimination, and are denied their right to peaceful assembly. She called on the GD government to “commit to a zero-tolerance policy and practice towards all forms of discrimination, and incitement to discrimination and violence, against LGBTI people.”

“I therefore call on the Georgian authorities to fully respect their human rights obligations, as a member state of the Council of Europe, including with regard to protecting the human rights of LGBTI people and ensuring an enabling environment for the activities of civil society and human rights defenders. I urge all politicians in Georgia to resolutely denounce the use of LGBTI-phobia or any other discriminatory rhetoric in electoral campaigns,” the Commissioner said.

Concluding her statement, Commissioner Mijatović expressed her solidarity with the Georgian human rights defenders, “who work for a peaceful country and society committed to equality and the human dignity of all.”

Notably, the U.S. State Department has also raised concerns about the draft laws. In an email comment shared with Formula TV, the State Department stated: “We are concerned about reports regarding the potential content of this legislation and are in touch with the Government of Georgia. We will be on the lookout for the text if or when it becomes available and may have more to say at that time.”

Also Read:

• 15/11/2023 – CoE HR Commissioner Mijatovic Urges Georgian Authorities to Tackle Discrimination Against Minorities
• 03/07/2023 – Tbilisi Pride Week Kicks off With Support From International Partners
• 01/07/2023 – CoE Commissioner for Human Rights visits Georgia
• 03/03/2023 – Shalva Papuashvili Responds to Commissioner Mijatović’s Letter
• 28/02/2023 – Commissioner Mijatović Urges the Georgian Parliament to Reject the Draft law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”

The Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatović slammed the Georgian Dream’s initiative to amend the constitution, curtailing LGBT rights. “It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned and which should have no place in a democratic society based on the rule of law and respect for the human rights of everyone,” said the Human Rights Commissioner in a statement published on March 27.  

The assets declaration of the former prime minister, Irakli Garibashvili, revealed that he received GEL 150.000 (approximately USD 54.545) as a gift from his parents in 2023. According to the assets declaration, “wealthy” parents of the former prime minister also paid GEL 109.500 (around USD 40.000) for their grandson’s scandalous charter flight on the state-owned jet to the U.S. Assets declaration also indicates that in 2023, Garibashvili’s average monthly salary amounted to GEL 3,750 (USD 1.383).  

According to the EU Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński, the EU considers integrity checks of top judges as a valuable mechanism to ensure a professional and independent judicial system. EU Ambassador also reminded authorities that a highly professional and independent judiciary is one of nine conditions set by the EC for Georgia, further expressing readiness to provide any necessary EC assistance and expertise.

Speaking with the journalists, Ambassador Herczyński also announced “several high-level visits involving EU institutions and also involving 27 EU member states to intensify dialogue” with Georgia. He stressed that the EC is “already in the process of drafting the enlargement report that will be published in October this year, again with recommendations from the EC to move forward to the next step or to wait.”  

In its draft contribution prepared within the 71st plenary meeting in Brussels, the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for European Union Affairs of Parliaments of the EU (COSAC) expressed support for the EU enlargement and called for “working towards opening accession talks with Georgia, in line with the merit-based approach.” The COSAC also urged the EU candidate countries to intensify reform efforts, particularly in the field of the rule of law.

An officer of the French National Gendarmerie, Major General Bettina Boughani, has been appointed as the new head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, said the Council of the European Union in its announcement. She will serve from March 21, 2024, until December 14, 2024, succeeding Dimitrios Karabalis.   

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that the remains of 12 people missing as a result of the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia were identified and returned to their families. In total, 1958 people, including military personnel and civilians, are still reported as missing in connection with the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia.

Another dismissed employee won a legal dispute with the National Agency for Cultural Heritage under the Culture Ministry. According to the Social Justice Center, the Tbilisi City Court ruled unlawful the dismissal of Natela Mumladze from the agency subordinated to the Culture Ministry. Tea Tsulukiani, since her appointment as Minister of Culture, has been frequently accused of persecuting freedom of expression and politically motivated dismissals, as was the case during her tenure as Justice Minister.