The Public Defender of Georgia submitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe another communication on the execution of judgements relating to the cases of the Tsintsabadze Group.

The communication responds to the March 2024 decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Action Plan of the Government of Georgia. The document presents an assessment of the general measures taken by the Government to execute the cases of the Tsintsabadze Group.

The following issues are discussed in the communication:

• The need to improve the mandate of the Special Investigation Service and the shortcomings in the investigation ongoing into the cases of alleged violations committed by law enforcement officers during the protests;
• Problems related to the video recording of interactions between law enforcement officers and citizens, as well as ensuring video recording in police institutions;
• Shortcomings in documenting alleged ill-treatment of defendants/convicts;
• The practice of placing prisoners in de-escalation rooms and the need for normative regulation.

The communication provides recommendations to the authorities to facilitate the execution of the cases of the Tsintsabadze Group.

The Ombudsman’s Office has asked the Secretary of State for Housing to intervene swiftly, with a view to correcting the flaws detected in the application of the compensation mechanism provided for in Decree-Law no. 132/2023, of 27 December, calling for the adoption of measures that guarantee effective and timely access to the compensation due to landlords, and avoid inequalities resulting from lower digital literacy.

Among the main concerns identified from a growing number of complaints are the difficulties in accessing this scheme, the significant delays in the payment of compensation, the exclusively digital nature of the procedure and the lack of effective support channels for applicants. Another aspect pointed out is the lack of legal provision for the payment of interest for delays in processing compensation, which aggravates the feeling of injustice among applicants.

The Ombudsman’s Office warns that exclusively digital access is not provided by law and is a real barrier to support, especially for older landlords with less digital skills.

In this context, the Secretary of State for Housing has been asked to intervene swiftly to correct the shortcomings detected. In particular, the Ombudsman’s Office advocates the urgent creation of alternatives to exclusively digital access and the introduction of a rule guaranteeing the payment of interest in cases where the State fails to comply with the legal deadlines it has set.

To read the full letter, click here [in Portuguese only].

(Excerpt)

WORKING IN THE INTERNATIONAL AREA The Ombudsman addressed the European Parliament delegation in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Dmytro Lubinets informed the MPs about the activities of the Ombudsman’s Office in Ukraine’s European integration processes, in particular, participation in the work on certain draft laws on the way to EU accession and joining bilateral (negotiating) meetings between Ukraine and the EU as part of the official screening of Ukrainian legislation with EU law.

Dmytro Lubinets also raised the issue of the return of all Ukrainians from Russian captivity and deportation. In this regard, he appealed to the members of the European Parliament to:

█ use all means to put pressure on Russia to release Ukrainians from captivity;

█ support Ukraine at all levels, including in the field of human rights protection;

█ increase pressure and sanctions against Russia and its officials involved in crimes against Ukrainians.

(Excerpt. The briefing is available at the International Cooperation and European Integration Department of the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights)

Los representantes han mencionado los problemas que provoca el ruido urbano excesivo en la salud de las personas, como insomnio, ansiedad, depresión y afecciones cardiacas

La justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, ha recibido este jueves en el Palacio de Armijo a tres representantes de la Asociación Vecinal Stop Ruido Casco Histórico, Antonio Pérez, Miguel Morte y Luis Monforte. Estos le han trasladado sus quejas en relación con el ruido de los bares y de las viviendas de uso turístico, un problema que tiene lugar, especialmente, en la zona del centro de la capital.

Además, han expuesto ante la justicia la ocupación excesiva del espacio público que suponen las terrazas de la hostelería, así como su ubicación junto a Bienes de Interés Cultural. En relación con la terraza en el asfalto, también han hecho hincapié en los problemas de salubridad que se generan debido a la basura que se acumula en los bajos y que atrae a roedores y cucarachas.

Los representantes de la asociación han informado a la justicia de Aragón de la celebración el próximo día 30 de abril del Día Internacional de Concienciación sobre el Ruido que, en la presente edición, tendrá por lema ‘Ruido y Salud’. Al respecto, se han detenido en los graves perjuicios que el ruido excesivo provoca en la salud de las personas, entre otros, el insomnio con sus múltiples consecuencias, las afecciones cardiacas, la ansiedad y la depresión.

Stop Ruidos planteará sendas quejas a la institución sobre la ocupación excesiva del espacio público por parte de las terrazas de hostelería y la acomodación de la ordenanza sobre ruidos del Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza a los nuevos requerimientos normativos.

La asociación lleva desde 2018 denunciando ante la administración local situaciones de ruido excesivo y cifran en ochocientas las denuncias presentadas al Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza.