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INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION Georgia — Municipal Elections, 30 May 2010
INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION Georgia — Municipal Elections, 30 May 2010 STATEMENT OF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS The 30 May municipal elections marked evident progress towards meeting OSCE and Council of Europe commitments. However, significant remaining shortcomings include deficiencies in the legal framework, its implementation, an uneven playing field, and isolated cases of election-day fraud. The authorities and the election administration made clear efforts to pro-actively address problems. Nevertheless, the low level of public confidence persisted. Further efforts in resolutely tackling recurring misconduct are required in order to consolidate the progress and enhance public trust before the next national elections. While the elections were overall well administered, systemic irregularities on election day were noted, as in past elections, in particular in Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Shida Kartli. The election administration managed these elections in a professional, transparent and inclusive manner. The new Central Election Commission (CEC) chairperson tried to reach consensus among CEC members, including those nominated by political parties, on all issues. For the first time, Precinct Election Commission (PEC) secretaries were elected by opposition-appointed PEC members, which was welcomed by opposition parties and increased inclusiveness. The transparency of the electoral process was enhanced by a large number of domestic observers. Considerable efforts were made to improve the quality of voters’ lists. In the run-up to these elections, parties received state funding to audit the lists. Voters were given sufficient time and information to check their entries. As part of the recent UEC amendments, some restrictions were placed on the rights of certain categories of citizens to vote in municipal elections, in order to address opposition parties’ concerns of possible electoral malpractices. -
Country of Origin Information Report Republic of Georgia 25 November
REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT Country of Origin Information Service 25 November 2010 GEORGIA 25 NOVEMBER 2010 Contents Preface Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Maps ...................................................................................................................... 1.05 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY .................................................................................................................. 3.01 Post-communist Georgia, 1990-2003.................................................................. 3.02 Political developments, 2003-2007...................................................................... 3.03 Elections of 2008 .................................................................................................. 3.05 Presidential election, January 2008 ................................................................... 3.05 Parliamentary election, May 2008 ...................................................................... 3.06 Armed conflict with Russia, August 2008 .......................................................... 3.09 Developments following the 2008 armed conflict.............................................. 3.10 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS .......................................................................................... -
Soros Foundations Network Report
2 0 0 7 OSI MISSION SOROS FOUNDATIONS NETWORK REPORT C O V E R P H O T O G R A P H Y Burmese monks, normally the picture of calm The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and reflection, became symbols of resistance in and tolerant democracies whose governments SOROS FOUNDATIONS NETWORK REPORT 2007 2007 when they joined demonstrations against are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its the military government’s huge price hikes mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that on fuel and subsequently the regime’s violent assure greater fairness in political, legal, and crackdown on the protestors. Thousands of economic systems and safeguard fundamental monks were arrested and jailed. The Democratic rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range Voice of Burma, an Open Society Institute of initiatives to advance justice, education, grantee, helped journalists smuggle stories out public health, and independent media. At the of Burma. OSI continues to raise international same time, OSI builds alliances across borders awareness of conditions in Burma and to support and continents on issues such as corruption organizations seeking to transform Burma from and freedom of information. OSI places a high a closed to an open society. more on page 91 priority on protecting and improving the lives of marginalized people and communities. more on page 143 www.soros.org SOROS FOUNDATIONS NETWORK REPORT 2007 Promoting vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens ABOUT THIS REPORT The Open Society Institute and the Soros foundations network spent approximately $440,000,000 in 2007 on improving policy and helping people to live in open, democratic societies. -
Pipe Dreams Illuminated at the North Dakota Museum of Art
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PIPE DREAMS ILLUMINATED AT THE NORTH DAKOTA MUSEUM OF ART A “Pipe Dream” is a fantastic hope that is generally regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve. The exhibition, Pipe Dreams: A chronicle of lives along the pipeline, is currently on display at the North Dakota Museum of Art. Rena Effendi’s black-and-white photographs shed light on the unrealized dreams of those living along the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that flows from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. On May 10, 2005, the oil spigot was turned on but it wasn’t until a year later on May 28 that oil reached the Mediterranean-Turkish port city of Ceyhan. Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan, Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, and Ceyhan is a port on the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey: Thus the pipeline got its name. The pipeline’s international presence was established in 1999 with the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough. The character Elektra King was responsible for the construction of the pipeline. Born in 1977 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Rena Effendi became a documentary photographer at a young age. In 2006, she was hired by British Petroleum to follow the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline segment in Azerbaijan. Her images resulted in a corporate calendar outlining the achievements of BP’s social responsibility program. In the course of her assignment, however, Effendi was confronted with the reality that the majority of people had not benefitted from the oil wealth flowing under their feet. In an attempt to find out what was hidden behind the PR smiles of the calendar, Effendi undertook a photographic journey of her own, following the 1,099-mile oil pipeline through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. -
Monitoring of Media Content of Local/Regional Television Broadcasters During Pre-Elections
Monitoring of Media Content of Local/Regional Television Broadcasters during Pre-Elections Subagreement # S-12-155 Report for: July 2 - November 11, 2012 Project Period: 11 June 2012 - 10 December 2012 Total Budget: 31 000$ Monitoring of Media Content of Local/Regional Television Broadcasters Results Summary/Impact Statement Main findings of monitoring: • Very few of the monitored subjects were dedicated airtime on regional TV channels; • Out of the monitored subjects the activities carried out by five political unions including United National Movement (UNM), Georgian Dream coalition, New Rights, Christian- Democratic Movement and Free Georgia were dedicated airtime; • Following the official announcement of the election campaign the amount of reporting on the UNM and the GD activities considerably went up; • In the aftermath of elections political parties were virtually provided with no TV coverage, apart from UNM and the Georgian Dream coalition; The amount of airtime devoted to the aforementioned two monitored subjects gradually decreased; • Most of the TV stories implied superficial information about the activities of the monitored subjects and failed to demonstrate dissenting or criticizing opinions over the issue; • In the aftermath of elections the extent of subjective coverage of events went down; • Following the elections some of the TV Companies mostly reported on social, cultural and economic issues ongoing in the region rather than political developments; • Prior to the elections the greater majority of regional TV channels dedicated a fair amount of airtime to reporting on the activities carried out by the local self-government. Reporting was almost always positive in tone. During the pre-election period reporting on the activities carried out by the local self-government considerably went up but this time reporting was not solely positive in tone; • The programs initiated by the authorities were covered in a superficial manner, without providing any additional arguments; • In the greater majority of TV Companies reporting was positive in tone. -
Municipal Elections, 30 May 2010
INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION Georgia — Municipal Elections, 30 May 2010 S TATEMENT OF P RELIMINARY F INDINGS AND C ONCLUSIONS P RELIMINARY C ONCLUSIONS The 30 May municipal elections marked evident progress towards meeting OSCE and Council of Europe commitments. However, significant remaining shortcomings include deficiencies in the legal framework, its implementation, an uneven playing field, and isolated cases of election-day fraud. The authorities and the election administration made clear efforts to pro-actively address problems. Nevertheless, the low level of public confidence persisted. Further efforts in resolutely tackling recurring misconduct are required in order to consolidate the progress and enhance public trust before the next national elections. While the elections were overall well administered, systemic irregularities on election day were noted, as in past elections, in particular in Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Shida Kartli. The election administration managedthese elections in a professional, transparent and inclusive manner. The new Central Election Commission (CEC) chairperson tried to reach consensus among CEC members, including those nominated by political parties, on all issues. For the first time, Precinct Election Commission (PEC) secretaries were elected by opposition-appointed PEC members, which was welcomed by opposition parties and increased inclusiveness. The transparency of the electoral process was enhanced by a large number of domestic observers. Considerable efforts were made to improve the quality of voters’ lists. In the run-up to these elections, parties received state funding to audit the lists. Voters were given sufficient time and information to check their entries. As part of the recent UEC amendments, some restrictions were placed on the rights of certain categories of citizens to vote in municipal elections, in order to address opposition parties’ concerns of possible electoral malpractices. -
Moambe Pre-Election Monitoring Report for the Month
MOAMBE PRE-ELECTION MONITORING REPORT FOR THE MONTH 1.09.20 - 30.09.20 ELECTIONS 2020 The First Channel and Georgian Radio have been monitoring all news and socio-politi- cal programs since September 1st, and the aim is to count the quantitative data of the time allocated to the monitored subjects. It is important that monitoring is done through a specially designed program, with links to the TV shows / stories attached. Monitors trained in the specifics of different platforms and shows are monitoring and process both Prime Time and Off Prime infor- mation. According to the practice of international organizations, the following will be mea- sured: • THE TOPIC ACCORDING TO THE ALLOTTED TIME • SUBJECT (SPEAKER) ACCORDING TO THE ALLOTTED TIME • DIRECT AND INDIRECT COVERAGE OF THE SUBJECT ACCORDING TO THE ALLOTTED TIME • SUBJECT COVERAGE BY TONE (POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, NEUTRAL) The subjects of monitoring are: • PARTIES / BLOCS REGISTERED WITH THE CEC FOR THE 2020 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF GEORGIA • MAJORITARIAN CANDIDATES NOMINATED BY INITIATIVE GROUPS FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, AND REGISTERED AT THE CEC • ELECTION SUBJECTS REGISTERED WITH THE CEC FOR THE SAKREBULO BY-ELECTIONS AND EXTRAORDINARY MAYORAL ELECTIONS • ELECTION SUBJECTS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC OF ADJARA • GOVERNMENT • PARLIAMENT • PRESIDENT • LOCAL GOVERNMENTS • CEC • NGOS • INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 2 ELECTIONS 2020 MONITORING METHODOLOGY Quantitative data of election monitoring include the time allotted to the subject (speaker), and direct and indirect coverage according to the time allotted and the tone of coverage (positive, negative, neutral). It must be explained that the time allotted to the subject (speaker) is a direct coverage of the subject. -
05Y266 PCF Awards Book 2011 Text 3.Indd 1 01-12-11 08:50 … It Is Impossible to ‘Develop’ Another Person Or Country from Outside
PRINCE CLAUS AWARDS 2011 05y266 PCF_Awards book_2011 text 3.indd 1 01-12-11 08:50 … IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ‘develoP’ ANOTHER PERSON OR COUNTRY FROM OUTSIDE. PEOPLE DEVELOP THEMSELVES, AND SO DO COUNTRIES. ALL THAT WE CAN DO IS ASSIST THAT PROCESS IF ASKED TO DO SO … HRH Prince Claus, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, 1988 05y266 PCF_Awards book_2011 text 3.indd 2 01-12-11 08:50 05y266 PCF_Awards book_2011 text 3.indd 3 01-12-11 08:50 FOREWORD 4 2011 Prince Claus Awards 05y266 PCF_Awards book_2011 text 3.indd 4 01-12-11 08:50 by HRH PRINCE FRISO AND HRH PRINCE CONSTANTIJN Honorary Chairmen of the Prince Claus Fund The Prince Claus Fund has a short but energetic history of 15 action-packed years. It was launched with the conviction that culture influences development and that every human society has the necessary wealth of cultural heritage and talent to develop itself. This has proved true. And in fact it often seems that the more difficult a society’s circumstances, the greater the inventiveness and commitment of its cultural activists. The Prince Claus Laureates are clear and shining examples showing the impact of cultural actions on local development. Raising the status and increasing the outreach of these crucial role models through the Prince Claus Awards has been part of the Fund’s strategy from the very beginning, and over the past 15 years we have been introduced to some truly remarkable individuals and organisations. The Zimbabwe International Book Fair (1997) and Algeria’s Barzakh Editions (2010) are catalysts for development through the promotion and production of local literature and the creation of intercultural bridges through co-publication and translation. -
Return of Private Foundation OMB No 1545-0052 Form 990 -PF Or Section 4947 ( A)(1) Nonexempt Charitable Trust ` Treated As a Private Foundation 2010 Note
l efile GRAPHIC p rint - DO NOT PROCESS As Filed Data - DLN: 93491311002561 Return of Private Foundation OMB No 1545-0052 Form 990 -PF or Section 4947 ( a)(1) Nonexempt Charitable Trust ` Treated as a Private Foundation 2010 Note . The foundation may be able to use a copy of this return to satisfy state reporting requirements Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service For calendar year 2010 , or tax year beginning 01 - 01-2010 , and ending 12-31-2010 G Check all that apply r'Initial return r'Initial return of a former public charity r'Final return FA mended return r'Address change r'Name change Name of foundation A Employer identification nu OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE 13-7029285 Number and street (or P 0 box number if mail is not delivered to street address ) Room/ suite is ieiepnone numoer (see page iu or the instructions) 400 WEST 59TH STREET (212) 548-0600 City or town, state, and ZIP code C If exemption application is pending, check here Iii. F NEW YORK, NY 10019 D 1. Foreign organizations, check here (- H Check type of organization I' Section 501 ( c)(3) exempt private foundation 2. Foreign organizations meeting the 85% test, r- check here and attach computation Section 4947( a)(1) nonexempt charitable trust Other taxable private foundation 3 Accounting method F Cash F Accrual E If private foundation status was terminated I Fair market value of all assets at end un d er sect ion 507 ( b )( 1 )( A), c h ec k h ere F o f y e a r (from Part I I, col. -
Monitoring of Media Content of Local/Regional Television Broadcasters
Monitoring of Media Content of Local/Regional Television Broadcasters during Pre-Elections Subagreement # S-12-155 Report for: October 8 - 14, 2012 Project Period: 11 June 2012 - 10 December 2012 Total Budget: 31 000$ Monitoring of Media Content of Local/Regional Television Broadcasters Results Summary/Impact Statement Main findings of the tenth phase of monitoring: • Very few of the monitored subjects are dedicated airtime on regional TV channels; • There is a sharp increase in the amount of time dedicated to the Georgian Dream coalition and substantial decrease in the amount negative tone of reporting in regard to the coalition; • The amount of airtime dedicated to the rest of the political subjects has largely gone down; • There is a decline in the subjective coverage of events by journalists; • The amount of airtime dedicated to the coverage of events ongoing nationwide increased in most of the TV companies. Background The report represents the results of the survey carried out within the period of October 8-14, 2012 by the Internews Georgia monitoring team. Media monitoring helps raise standard of professionalism and is conducive to the development of independent unbiased journalism. The goal of our survey is to reveal, through monitoring main news programs aired on Georgian regional TV broadcasters, the proceeding and trends of media coverage of pre-election campaign. Activities The survey was carried out on 20 regional broadcasters operating nationwide, including: Channel 25 (Batumi), Rioni (Kutaisi), Kvemo Kartli TV and Radio Company (Rustavi), Odishi (Zugdidi), Tanamgzavri (Telavi), 9th Channel (Alkhaltsikhe), Trialeti (Gori), Guria (Ozurgeti), Imervizia (Chiatura), Argo (Zestaponi), Gurjaani (Gurjaani), Borjomi (Borjomi), Marneuli TV (Marneuli), LTV (Lagodekhi), 12th Channel (Bolnisi), Mega TV (Khoni), Zari (Samtredia), 9th Wave (Poti), Kronika (Dusheti), Egrisi (Senaki). -
Special Election Projects and Election Subjects
SPECIAL ELECTION PROJECTS AND ELECTION SUBJECTS PARTICIPATING IN TV DEBATE OUT OF 50 REGISTERED ELECTION SUBJECTS, 42 ELECTION SUBJECTS PARTICIPATED IN THE DEBATE (INCLUDING 13 QUALIFIED SUBJECTS AND 29 NON-QUALIFIED SUBJECTS). THE FOLLOWING QUALIFIED PARTIES PARTICIPATED: 1 Georgian Labour Party 2 Davit Chichinadze - Tribuna - CDM 3 Traditionalists 4 Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia 5 Giorgi Vashadze-Strategy Aghmashenebeli 6 Freedom - The Way of Zviad Gamsakhurdia 7 New Christian-Democrats 2 ELECTIONS 2020 8 Bakradze, Ugulava, Bokeria – European Georgia - Movement for Liberty 9 United National Movement - United Opposition “Strength is in Unity” 10 Nino Burjanadze - United Georgia - Democratic Movement 11 Political Union of Citizens “Political Movement of Armed Veterans and Patriots of Georgia” 12 Free Democrats 13 Free Georgia (Kakha Kukava, Giorgi Tsulaia) 2020 ELECTIONS 3 THE FOLLOWING UNQUALIFIED PARTIES PARTICIPATED: 1 “Road of Zviadi” (For God, Justice for the Country) 2 Georgian March - National Movement 3 For Social Justice 4 Sakartvelo 5 Change Georgia 6 Gia Zhorzholiani - Social - Democrats for Development of Georgia 7 Bezhan Gunava- Georgian Choice 8 Ana Rekhviashvili – Public Movement Christian-Democrats 9 Georgian Roots 10 Lelo - Mamuka Khazaradze 11 Tamaz Mechiauri for United Georgia 12 Georgian Idea 13 Gachechiladze – Greens’ Party 14 Future Georgia 15 Eka Beselia - “For Justice” 16 Reformers 17 National Democratic Movement 18 Georgian Development Party 4 ELECTIONS 2020 19 New Power 20 Choice for Georgia 21 Irakli Okruashvili -
16Th PLENARY SESSION CPR(16)2REP 3 February 2009
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Chamber of Regions 16th PLENARY SESSION CPR(16)2REP 3 February 2009 Observation of the elections to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (Georgia) (3 November 2008) Günther Krug (Germany, SOC, R) Explanatory Memorandum Bureau of the Congress Summary : : The Congress observed the 3 November elections to the legislative assembly of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. The four Congress teams covered more than 60 polling stations. Polling day was calm and several recommendations by the Congress following the 2001 and 2004 Adjara elections had been implemented. However, a further consolidation of the democratic processes is necessary because of inadequacies in a number of polling stations, including as regards the voter lists, the vote count and the transmission of results. The delegation also noted that some parties abstained altogether from participating in the elections and expressed doubts about whether the reduction of seats in the new Supreme Council from 30 to 18 can enhance regional democracy. Similar doubts were expressed about the fact that the Council does not have the right to elect directly the Head of Adjara Government. R: Chamber of Regions / L: Chamber of Local Authorities ILDG: Independent and Liberal Democrat Group of the Congress EPP/CD: Group European People’s Party – Christian Democrats of the Congress SOC: Socialist Group of the Congress NR: Member not belonging to a Political Group of the Congress Table of Contents Executive summary .............................................................................................................................