The undersigned organizations express concern over the inadequate response of the Georgian authorities to Ivane Merabishvili’s allegations made on December 16, 2013.

The Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary would like to express its position concerning the delay in electing a member of the Constitutional Court. A ten-year term of office of the member of Constitutional Court, who was designated by the parliament, expired on 23 September 2013. Nevertheless, the Parliament has not yet elected a new member of the Constitutional Court. 

On December 21, 2013, Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava made a statement prior to his trial that the judge presiding over the case was under duress of certain persons including current and former employees of the Interior Ministry's General Inspection. He identified concrete individuals who were allegedly exercising duress on the judge. It is our firm belief that relevant authorities should react to the statement in a timely and adequate manner.

Draft of the Code on Local Self-Government submitted to the Parliament of Georgia introduces an important initiative of direct elections for offices of Gamgebelis (Mayors), which we have been advocating for a long time. Regrettably, the proposed draft also contains a provision that weakens the importance of the institute of elected Gamgebelis and Mayors. 

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy will monitor December 15 elections in Ukraine in frames of the ENEMO monitoring mission. 

The world marks the International Anti-Corruption Day today. On this occasion, we would like to present to you our views concerning the current situation in our country in terms of the fight against corruption and to offer our vision of the priorities for future reform.

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy releases a statement in response to public discussions about the need of local self-government reform and risks associated. 

The consideration of Lazarashvili’s case revealed that the activity of the Council largely depends on subjective, inconsistent interpretations of its members and agreements among them, which often run counter to principles of legal state and jeopardize interests of justice.