Public Defender

    Georgia’s ombudsman visits mountain villages in Adjara

    By | July 28th, 2025|Categories: Economy|Tags: , , , , |

    (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch--In the remote high-altitude villages of southwestern Georgia, youngsters are leaving while remaining residents have to deal with limited internet access, sparse infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles. Many young people are leaving settlements like Ghorjomi and Didachara in search of work, while those who remain struggle with poor communications networks and unresolved land registration issues, [...]

      Former public defender Nino Lomjaria to establish new pro-EU public movement

      By | September 5th, 2023|Categories: News|Tags: , |

      Former Public Defender of Georgia Nino Lomjaria, who has been the object of permanent criticism and constant verbal attacks by the ruling party for the past years, is founding a new public movement, the first event of which will be held on Thursday. European Orbit of Georgia is a platform that creates space for those who [...]

        Georgia’s Public Defender says representatives are threatened by Soviet-style inmate leaders

        By | January 20th, 2021|Categories: News|Tags: , , , |

        Nino Lomjaria. (ombudsman.ge) TBILISI, DFWatch--Penitentiary authorities in Georgia have unleashed “prisoners managed by the administration” to systematically carry out “verbal attacks, threats and aggression” against representatives of the Public Defender's Office, Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria said on Wednesday. The PDO earlier released a report claiming the management model of semi-open prisons was based on an informal hierarchy [...]

          CSOs Seek Involvement in Public Defender’s Selection Process

          By | October 19th, 2017|Categories: NGO news|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

          We would like to respond to the statements related to the selection of Georgian Public Defender and call on the Parliament of Georgia to ensure civil society participation in the process of selecting the main human rights defender of the country. It is well-known to everyone that according to legislation, a Public Defender may be nominated [...]

            Georgia to allow human rights inspectors to take photos in prisons

            By | October 13th, 2015|Categories: News|Tags: , |

            Prison Minister Kakha Kakhishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian government will from next year allow the Public Defender’s Office to take pictures inside prison. This will allow photographic evidence to be obtained in cases where there is suspicion of abuse, or when sanitary conditions […]

              Ombudsman asks Prosecutor’s Office to investigate police brutality

              By | December 29th, 2014|Categories: In brief|Tags: , |

              The incident took place at the police station in Gldani, north Tbilisi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian ombudsman has asked the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate an incident of possible mistreatment by police. On Monday, the Ombudsman’s Office reported that a citizen, whose name is mentioned by initials, was detained […]

                Rebellion at Public Defender’s office over Bacho Akhalaia visit

                By | November 13th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                Five of the Public Defender’s staff are out in a dispute about the conditions of former government officials in jail. (Pirveli.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three employees at the Public Defender’s office in Georgia have resigned, and two have been fired, after disagreement over a visit to former prison minister Bacho Akhalaia in jail. Marina Gigineishvili, Amiran Nikolaishvili and Guram Bendiashvili, […]

                  Ucha Nanuashvili is Georgia’s new ombudsman

                  By | December 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

                  TBILISI, DFWatch — Ucha Nanuashvili has been chosen as Georgia’s new ombudsman. The 38 year old lawyer has more than 15 years of experience as a human rights worker and is currently director of the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center. Mr Nanuashvili’s […]

                    Nina Khatiskatsi nominated as ombudsman

                    By | November 7th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                    TBILISI, DFWatch — The majority in parliament has picked a former employee of Transparency International as candidate for ombudsman. Nina Khatiskatsi was fired by TI Georgia shortly before the parliamentary election, allegedly for political reasons. Who will fill […]

                      Ombudsman candidates roasted by students

                      By | November 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

                      TBILISI, DFWatch — Society for a better Society organized a meeting between three candidates for ombudsman in front of students at Tbilisi State University on November 5, 2012. Each candidate had 15 minutes to talk about their views and future plans. The rights […]

                        New ombudsman may be chosen today

                        By | October 25th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

                        TBILISI, DFWatch — Thursday parliament will approve the new government presented by the Georgian Dream coalition. Parliament might also approve the new public defender, whose candidacy has been subject to discussion since the election result first became known. […]

                          Tamar Gurchiani named as candidate for public defender

                          By | October 12th, 2012|Categories: NGO news|Tags: |

                          TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA) and other non-governmental organizations have  proposed to the parliament that Tamar Gurchiani should be the new public defender. “We, the members of non-governmental organizations, […]

                            Saakashvili appoints ombudsman as prison minister

                            By | September 20th, 2012|Categories: News, Prisoner abuse|Tags: , |

                            TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili Thursday appointed the public defender as prison minister. Former prison minister Khatuna Kalmakhelidze resigned yesterday amidst a scandal spurred by the release of five videos showing prisoners being beaten […]

                              In Georgia, 40% of prisoners who die have injuries

                              By | March 29th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

                              TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Public Defender on Thursday presented his annual report on human rights in the country. Among the most important problems is conditions in the prison and penitentiary system in Georgia, where human rights are often violated, according to […]

                                The right to health care and Georgia’s penitentiary system

                                By | December 28th, 2011|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , , |

                                Despite the fact that the Ministry of Corrections, Probation and Legal Assistance declared the reform of the penitentiary health care as one of the priority directions and carried our measures in this area, health care in prisons still remains the Achilles’ heel of Georgia’s penitentiary system. The situation is made difficult by the disproportionate distribution of [...]