PUBLIC DEFENDER (OMBUDSMAN) OF GEORGIA 2017 2017 The Public Defender of Georgia www.ombudsman.ge 1 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF GEORGIA, 2017 This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. 2 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF GEORGIA THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN GEORGIA 2017 2017 www.ombudsman.ge www.ombudsman.ge 3 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF GEORGIA, 2017 OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER OF GEORGIA 6, Ramishvili str, 0179, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: +995 32 2913814; +995 32 2913815 Fax: +995 32 2913841 E-mail: [email protected] 4 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................11 1. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S LEGAL REQUEST ...............................16 1.1. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S LEGAL REQUEST BY THE STATE SECURITY SERVICE .............................................................................................17 1.2. FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR STUDYING A CASE ..............17 1.3. PROVIDING AN INTERIM RESPONSE WITHIN STATUTORY TERM AND SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION ONLY AFTER A REPEATED REQUEST .....................17 1.4. REFUSAL TO IMPART INFORMATION BY INVOKING VARIOUS GROUNDS ....................18 2. FULFILMENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF GEORGIA IN THE PARLIAMENTARY REPORT OF 2016 ................................................................21 3. RIGHT TO LIFE .....................................................................................................................................29 4. PREVENTION OF TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT ......................................................................................................32 4.1. PENITENTIARY SYSTEM ...........................................................................................................32 4.2. THE SYSTEM OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS ...............................................40 4.3. TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION CENTRE OF THE MIGRATION DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF GEORGIA ...............................................47 4.4. PSYCHIATRIC ESTABLISHMENTS ...........................................................................................50 5. INVESTIGATION OF TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT..........................................................................................................................................56 2017 5.1. PRACTICE ...................................................................................................................................56 5.2. DRAFT LAW ON THE OFFICE OF THE STATE INSPECTOR ...........................................58 5.3. SPECIAL REPORT ON EFFECTIVE RESPONSE OF GENERAL INSPECTORATES ......59 5.4. COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ................................................................................................................................60 6. THE RIGHT TO LIBERTY AND SECURITY .....................................................................................61 6.1. PREVENTIVE MEASURES .........................................................................................................61 6.2. EXTRADITION DETENTION ...................................................................................................62 www.ombudsman.ge 5 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF GEORGIA, 2017 6.3. THE CASE OF IVANE MERABISHVILI ....................................................................................63 6.4. INCREASE IN THE TERM OF ADMINISTRATIVE ARREST ...............................................63 6.5. TESTING FOR DRUGS ................................................................................................................64 6.6. SPECIAL STOP AND SEARCH PROCEDURES BY POLICE (THE SO-CALLED RAIDS) ..65 7. THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL ............................................................................................................67 7.1. INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS IN THE JUDICIARY ..............................................................67 7.2. DELAY IN CONSIDERATION OF CASES BY APPEAL COURTS ..........................................69 7.3. PERMANENCE OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE BENCH ................................................70 7.4. PRACTICE OF CONDUCTING DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JUDGES ......71 7.5. PRINCIPLE OF LEGALITY .........................................................................................................71 7.6. EQUALITY OF ARMS ...................................................................................................................72 7.7. THE USE OF INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE ..............................................................................73 7.8. THE RIGHT TO A REASONED SENTENCE ...........................................................................74 7.9. SHORTCOMINGS IN EXAMINATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE VIOLATION CASES ..74 7.10. RIGHT TO FREE LEGAL AID IN CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEEDINGS ............................75 8. RIGHT TO RESPECT FOR PRIVATE LIFE ........................................................................................77 8.1. INVESTIGATION ON DISSEMINATED RECORDINGS ........................................................77 8.2. PROCEDURE FOR CARRYING OUT COVERT INVESTIGATIVE OPERATIONS .............78 8.3. WIRETAPPING AND RECORDING TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS ..............................79 9. RIGHT TO EQUALITY ................................................................................................................................81 9.1. DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUND OF SEX .....................................................................81 9.2. DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUND OF DISABILITY ......................................................82 9.3. DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUND OF RELIGION ........................................................82 9.4. DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUND OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY .....................................................................................................................................83 9.5. DISCRIMINATION IN THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING SOCIAL BENEFITS. ...................83 9.6. DISCRIMINATION IN LABOUR AND PRE-CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP. ...............84 9.7. STATEMENTS AND ADVERTISEMENTS ENCOURAGING DISCRIMINATION..............84 9.8. SHORTCOMINGS IN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED HATE CRIMES .......................85 10. GENDER EQUALITY .................................................................................................................................87 10.1. WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS .................................87 10.2. WOMEN’S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND LABOUR RIGHTS. .................................................88 6 CONTENTS 10.3. SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS (SRHR) ........................................89 10.4. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY ..............................................................................................90 10.5. TRADE OF HUMANS (TRAFFICKING). .....................................................................................90 10.6. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ............................................91 10.7. EARLY MARRIAGE. .......................................................................................................................94 10.8. THE RIGHTS OF LGBT+ PERSONS. ..........................................................................................95 10.9. THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND LGBT+ RIGHT DEFENDERS ............................................97 11. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION ...............................................................................99 11.1. LEGISLATION AND EXISTING GAPS RELATED TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND EQUALITY .....................................................................................................................................99 11.2. OFFENCES COMMITTED ON THE GROUNDS OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE .........100 11.3. VIOLATION OF RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY AND DISCRIMINATION AT SCHOOLS ....101 11.4. PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE PROPERTY OF RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS ................102 11.5. PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION ..............................................................................................103 12. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ...............................................................................................................105 12.1. CASE OF AFGAN MUKHTARLI ..................................................................................................105 12.2. CASE OF TV COMPANY “RUSTAVI 2” .......................................................................................106 12.3. EVENTS SURROUNDING THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER ....................................................107 12.4. CASE OF BIRJA MAFIA ................................................................................................................107 13. FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND MANIFESTATION........................................................................109 14. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ..........................................................................................................111