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On the Situation of Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in Georgia

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On the Situation of Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in Georgia Report of the Public Defender of Georgia On the Situation of Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in Georgia 2020 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 1. The right to life ................................................................................................................................................... 25 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 25 1.2. State’s positive obligation to protect the right to life during the pandemic .......................................... 26 1.3. How somatic (physical) health issues are treated at mental health institutions .................................... 27 1.4. The case of Giorgi Shakarashvili ............................................................................................................................. 28 1.5. The case of Temirlan Machalikashvili ................................................................................................................... 28 1.6. Murders of juveniles in Khorava Street ................................................................................................................ 29 1.7. Investigation into the deaths of prisoners in the penitentiary ..................................................................... 30 1.8. Investigation into the pardons granted by the President of Georgia ........................................................ 31 1.9. Work safety-related challenges ............................................................................................................................... 31 1.10. Protection of the right to life in the Occupied Territories ........................................................................... 32 2. Prohibition and Investigation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ............................................................................................................................................................. 36 2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 36 2.2. Practice That Amounts or Can Amount to Ill-Treatment ....................................................................... 38 2.3. Safeguards Against Ill-Treatment/Risk Factors Causing Ill-treatment ................................................ 51 2.4. Investigation of Alleged Incidents of Ill-Treatment ................................................................................... 61 3. Right to liberty and security ....................................................................................................................... 75 3.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 75 3.2. Restrictions imposed on the right to liberty and security of person on account of the pandemic in the country ....................................................................................................................................................................... 75 3.3. Arrests in breach of the requirements of law ............................................................................................. 80 3.4. Flaws in the law ..................................................................................................................................................... 80 3.5. Use of preventative measures pending trial ................................................................................................ 81 3.6. The case concerning Ivane Merabishvili ....................................................................................................... 82 3.7 Restriction of Giorgi Ugulava’s right to free movement ......................................................................... 83 3.8 Flaws in using extradition detention .............................................................................................................. 83 3.9 Mechanisms for release from detention ...................................................................................................... 84 3.10 Defects in enforcing non-custodial punishments ..................................................................................... 86 4. Right to a Fair Trial ....................................................................................................................................... 89 4.1. Introduction................................................................................................................................................................... 89 4.2. Institutional problems in the judiciary ................................................................................................................. 90 1 | Report of the Public Defender of Georgia 2020 4.3. Impact of COVID-19 upon the right to a fair trial ........................................................................................... 102 4.4. The right to be tried within a reasonable time ................................................................................................ 106 4.5. Cases adjudicated in substantive breach of the law ...................................................................................... 109 4.6. Gag order in criminal proceedings ...................................................................................................................... 113 4.7. The right to property in the context of criminal proceedings .................................................................... 114 4.8. Flaws in legal proceedings in administrative offense cases ........................................................................ 115 5.Right to Respect for Private Life .................................................................................................................... 118 5.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 118 5.2. Violations of the right to respect for privacy ............................................................................................. 119 5.3. Investigatons into breaches of the right to privacy ................................................................................. 121 5.4. Contact with the outside world in penitentiary institutions .................................................................. 122 5.5. Contact with the outside world in psychiatric institutions .................................................................... 126 5.6. Seizure of electronic devices and extraction of information ................................................................ 127 6. Right to equality .......................................................................................................................................... 130 6.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 130 6.2. State of Equality of Women............................................................................................................................. 131 6.3. Disability ................................................................................................................................................................. 133 6.4. Religion ................................................................................................................................................................... 135 6.5. Nationality .............................................................................................................................................................. 136 6.6. Equality of LGBT + people ............................................................................................................................... 137 6.7. Discrimination in labor relations .................................................................................................................... 138 6.8. Equality in social security ................................................................................................................................. 140 6.9. Incitement to discrimination ............................................................................................................................ 141 6.10. Flows in the investigation of alleged hate motivated crimes ............................................................ 142 7. Gender Equality ........................................................................................................................................... 145 7.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 145 7.2. Women’s Equal Participation in the Decision-Making Process ......................................................... 145 7.3. Women’s Economic Participation and Labor Rights ............................................................................... 147 7.4. Women, Peace and Security .........................................................................................................................
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