Liberty Institute (Georgia)
Encyclopedia
Liberty Institute is a Georgian
research and advocacy organization affiliated with Ilia Chavchavadze State University.
Liberty has always been the cornerstone of established Georgian values. It has been transformed into classical liberal
tradition by Ilia Chavchavadze. Drawing on traditions and resources of the university bearing his name, organization aims to research and advance individual, economic and national freedom.
Promoting liberal principles in all fields of public life Liberty Institute facilitates strengthening and development of Georgia, protection of national interests domesticly and internationally.
Liberty Institutes aims is not only to analyse and comment on public policy but to change it, to move it towards liberal direction and to confront challenges to liberty, create intellectual leadership on major issues as well as on thought frameworks for decision-making.
Liberty Institute is not just an academic forum for critical discussions and debates but an organization that strives to act as catalyst of reforms through generating pathbreaking ideas on wide spectrum of public policy issues.
Taking the guiding values of liberty and translating them into a strong tangible impact by combining analysis, advocacy, and action, is indispensable for our success. Choosing the issues, that have potential to be at the top of the political agenda and that are equally important for politicians, scholars, businensmen, journalists and citizens, for all those who shape our future; ensuring the high quality of research, its objectivity, impartiality, intellectual independence, innovativeness and creativity, and last but not least – using effective marketing, translation of valuable information and ideas into realistic initiatives and communicating to those, who are the driving engines of change, all of this combined results in its work becoming influential.
Implementation of new ideas requires fostering of fresh generation of leaders. Liberty Institute stimulates students interest in public service enabling students to become effective leaders and to make a difference in the world around them.
Liberty Institute through its internship and mentoring programs provides students with intellectual and technical resources and opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking skills, to bridge the gap between their professional aspirations and clasroom experience, to begin building a professional network while interacting with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers.
Through civic campaigns, debates, surveys and educational activities, Liberty Institute strives to promote the values of civil liberties, active citizenship
, public accountability, the rule of law
, transparency
and the free market in public life, politics
, legislation
and within public agencies.
Liberty Institute played an important role in the Rose Revolution
. After the revolution, most of its founders were elected to the Parliament of Georgia. Giga Bokeria
became Deputy chairman of the Committee on Legal Issues, Member of Committee on Defense and Security, one of the leaders of United National Movement. He has authored many laws to strengthen human rights in Georgia.
Givi Targamadze
, became Chair of Georgian Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security. Together with some other members of Liberty Institute and Kmara was consulting Ukrainian opposition leaders on technique of non-violent struggle. Later on he also advised the leaders of the Kyrgyz opposition during the Tulip Revolution
. David Zurabishvili
in 2005 defected from United National Movement and now is member of opposition Republican Party of Georgia
. In 2004 member of Liberty Institute Sozar Subari
, was elected by Parliament of Georgia
as Public Defender (Ombudsman
) for 5 years term. Former member of Liberty Institute Gigi Ugulava became Mayor of Tbilisi
. Former member of Liberty Institute Zurab Tchiaberashvili is Georgian Ambassador to Council of Europe
. In 2005 member of Liberty Institute Tamar Kintsurashvili
was elected by the Board Governors of Georgian Public Broadcasting
as its first Director General. Konstantine Vardzelashvili
became in 2004 firstly deputy minister of Justice, lately in 2006 - deputy chair of Constitutional Court of Georgia. Anna Zhvania
was appointed initially as adviser to President, in 2006 she became first female head of Foreign Intelligence Special Service of Georgia. Now she serves as 1st deputy Minister of Educations and Science. Former Executive Director of Liberty Institute Akaki Minashvili
was elected to Parliament of Georgia and in December 2008 he was elected as Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs. Before that he was Deputy Chairman of Committee on Legal Issues.
Among its founders, only Levan Ramishvili
stayed at Liberty Institute. He continues to work together with a new generation of civic activists, most of them leaders of Kmara
movement.
Liberty Institute was founded in 1996. The immediate reason of its foundation were the well-known events related to the Rustavi 2
, an independent TV station. About a month before, the Georgia Ministry of Communications had ceased the company to broadcast license. This move was regarded as a blatant violation of freedom of speech and threat to independent media. By this time, the non-governmental sector in Georgia was in almost embryonic stage of development as only a few civil rights organizations were active. In this situation idea of creation an NGO which would primarily focus on defence of civil rights, particularly freedom of speech, came into existence.
While defence of human rights remained to be a top priority for the institute, with time, it has extended its focus on various fields:
Liberty Institute consistently provides resources, trainings and support for the whole diversity of social and professional groups enhancing effectiveness, professionalism, and active citizenship, principles of civil responsibility, accountability and transparency within society. A number of LI publications were approved as textbooks by the major higher education institutions in Georgia. The books are used at the faculties of Journalism and Law.
, Sozar Subari
, David Zurabishvili
, Giga Phrangishvili and Dali Tskitishvili. They destroyed office equipment and the office itself. Accidentally, during the pogrom, experts of the Council of Europe were present. This act of violence received wide resonance from local and international media. However, the incident has not yet been investigated.
Liberty institute has provided legal consultancy for thousands of people for defending their rights. During the years by the public campaigns, lawyer, educational and legislative activities LI aimed to establish democratic and liberal values, public accountability, control mechanisms and support the development of democratic institutions in Georgia.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
research and advocacy organization affiliated with Ilia Chavchavadze State University.
Liberty has always been the cornerstone of established Georgian values. It has been transformed into classical liberal
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
tradition by Ilia Chavchavadze. Drawing on traditions and resources of the university bearing his name, organization aims to research and advance individual, economic and national freedom.
Promoting liberal principles in all fields of public life Liberty Institute facilitates strengthening and development of Georgia, protection of national interests domesticly and internationally.
Liberty Institutes aims is not only to analyse and comment on public policy but to change it, to move it towards liberal direction and to confront challenges to liberty, create intellectual leadership on major issues as well as on thought frameworks for decision-making.
Liberty Institute is not just an academic forum for critical discussions and debates but an organization that strives to act as catalyst of reforms through generating pathbreaking ideas on wide spectrum of public policy issues.
Taking the guiding values of liberty and translating them into a strong tangible impact by combining analysis, advocacy, and action, is indispensable for our success. Choosing the issues, that have potential to be at the top of the political agenda and that are equally important for politicians, scholars, businensmen, journalists and citizens, for all those who shape our future; ensuring the high quality of research, its objectivity, impartiality, intellectual independence, innovativeness and creativity, and last but not least – using effective marketing, translation of valuable information and ideas into realistic initiatives and communicating to those, who are the driving engines of change, all of this combined results in its work becoming influential.
Implementation of new ideas requires fostering of fresh generation of leaders. Liberty Institute stimulates students interest in public service enabling students to become effective leaders and to make a difference in the world around them.
Liberty Institute through its internship and mentoring programs provides students with intellectual and technical resources and opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking skills, to bridge the gap between their professional aspirations and clasroom experience, to begin building a professional network while interacting with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers.
Through civic campaigns, debates, surveys and educational activities, Liberty Institute strives to promote the values of civil liberties, active citizenship
Active citizenship
Active citizenship refers to a philosophy espoused by organizations and educational institutions which advocates that members of companies or nation-states have certain roles and responsibilities to society and the environment, although those members may not have specific governing roles.Active...
, public accountability, the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
, transparency
Transparency (humanities)
Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed...
and the free market in public life, politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
and within public agencies.
Liberty Institute played an important role in the Rose Revolution
Rose Revolution
The "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after having widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections...
. After the revolution, most of its founders were elected to the Parliament of Georgia. Giga Bokeria
Giga Bokeria
Giorgi Bokeria is a Georgian politician and the current Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia.During 1989–1995 Bokeria was one of the leaders of student movement, in particular active member of Press Club of Tbilisi State University...
became Deputy chairman of the Committee on Legal Issues, Member of Committee on Defense and Security, one of the leaders of United National Movement. He has authored many laws to strengthen human rights in Georgia.
Givi Targamadze
Givi Targamadze
Givi Targamadze is a Georgian politician . Targamadze is the chairman of Defense and Security Committee of Parliament of Georgia and one of the leaders of United National Movement....
, became Chair of Georgian Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security. Together with some other members of Liberty Institute and Kmara was consulting Ukrainian opposition leaders on technique of non-violent struggle. Later on he also advised the leaders of the Kyrgyz opposition during the Tulip Revolution
Tulip Revolution
The Tulip Revolution or First Kyrgyz Revolution refers to the overthrow of President Askar Akayev and his government in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan after the parliamentary elections of February 27 and of March 13, 2005...
. David Zurabishvili
David Zurabishvili
David Zurabishvili is a Georgian politician and the leading member of the Republican Party of Georgia. He has been a member of parliament since 2004 and is Chairman of opposition faction Democratic Front in Parliament of Georgia....
in 2005 defected from United National Movement and now is member of opposition Republican Party of Georgia
Republican Party of Georgia
The Republican Party of Georgia , commonly known as the Republicans , is a political party in Georgia active since 1978. It is currently in opposition to Mikheil Saakashvili’s government...
. In 2004 member of Liberty Institute Sozar Subari
Sozar Subari
Sozar Subari is a Georgian journalist and human rights activist who served as a Public Defender of Georgia from 2004 to 2009....
, was elected by Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
as Public Defender (Ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
) for 5 years term. Former member of Liberty Institute Gigi Ugulava became Mayor of Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. Former member of Liberty Institute Zurab Tchiaberashvili is Georgian Ambassador to Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. In 2005 member of Liberty Institute Tamar Kintsurashvili
Tamar Kintsurashvili
Tamar Kintsurashvili - former Director General of Georgian Public Broadcasting 22 of August 2005.Was born on May 8, 1970 in Tskaltubo, Georgia...
was elected by the Board Governors of Georgian Public Broadcasting
Georgian Public Broadcasting
Georgian Public Broadcasting is the national public broadcaster of Georgia. It started broadcasting radio in 1925, and Georgian TV started broadcasting in 1956. Today, 85% of the Georgian population receive the First Channel , and 55% receive the Second Channel...
as its first Director General. Konstantine Vardzelashvili
Konstantine Vardzelashvili
Konstantine Vardzelashvili is Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia. Prior to being appointed to the court, he was Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice. 1998-1999 – worked as Head of the program on protection of human rights, legal education and media development at the...
became in 2004 firstly deputy minister of Justice, lately in 2006 - deputy chair of Constitutional Court of Georgia. Anna Zhvania
Anna Zhvania
Anna Zhvania is the former head of the foreign intelligence branch of Georgia in 2006-2008, being the first female to have been appointed to this post in Georgia. She had also formerly served as an advisor to the President of Georgia on civic integration and programme coordinator of the Liberty...
was appointed initially as adviser to President, in 2006 she became first female head of Foreign Intelligence Special Service of Georgia. Now she serves as 1st deputy Minister of Educations and Science. Former Executive Director of Liberty Institute Akaki Minashvili
Akaki Minashvili
Akaki Minashvili is a Georgian politician and Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs of Parliament of Georgia since December 2008...
was elected to Parliament of Georgia and in December 2008 he was elected as Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs. Before that he was Deputy Chairman of Committee on Legal Issues.
Among its founders, only Levan Ramishvili
Levan Ramishvili
Levan Ramishvili is a key figure in Georgia's democracy movement, which successfully forced authoritarian Eduard Shevardnadze to resign through strategic nonviolent action...
stayed at Liberty Institute. He continues to work together with a new generation of civic activists, most of them leaders of Kmara
Kmara
Kmara is a civic resistance movement in the republic of Georgia which undermined the government of Eduard Shevardnadze. After international observers condemned his government's conduct of the November 2003 parliamentary elections, Kmara led the protests which precipitated his downfall in what...
movement.
History
In its ten years' existence, litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad range of issues affecting individual freedom, Liberty Institute has become a widely recognized institution as the nation's foremost advocate of individual rights.Liberty Institute was founded in 1996. The immediate reason of its foundation were the well-known events related to the Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2 Broadcasting Company , better known as Rustavi 2, is the most successful private television broadcasting company in Georgia. The Rustavi, based in Tbilisi, was founded in 1994 in the town of Rustavi. It is a privately owned free to air terrestrial broadcaster that currently reaches around...
, an independent TV station. About a month before, the Georgia Ministry of Communications had ceased the company to broadcast license. This move was regarded as a blatant violation of freedom of speech and threat to independent media. By this time, the non-governmental sector in Georgia was in almost embryonic stage of development as only a few civil rights organizations were active. In this situation idea of creation an NGO which would primarily focus on defence of civil rights, particularly freedom of speech, came into existence.
Activities
The Liberty Institute has been at the core of Georgia’s social and political life since the first days of its existence. The Institute is one of the most quoted organizations by Georgia’s broadcasting and print media. 15 books have been published by LI experts; LI produce an extensive state of the human rights report annually. Its monthly magazine, Liberty, is one of the most highly-demanded publications in Georgia. In February 2003 as result of long time advocacy effort by Liberty Institute constitutional amendments was adopted and jury was trial introduction in Georgia. 11 laws drafted by this organization were adopted by Parliament of Georgia. In 1999, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the General Administrative Code of Georgia, one of the most important chapters of which on Freedom of Information was drafted by Liberty Institute. This law provides for public access to public information and governmental meetings and lays down the legislative grounds for transparency and accountability of public institutions. Drafted with Liberty Institute’s active involvement, the Laws on Higher Education and General Education were adopted by parliament in 2004 and 2005 provide for guarantees of academic freedom and student rights. Two groundbreaking media and free speech laws adopted by Parliament of Georgia were also drafted by this organization – The Law on the Freedom of Speech and Expression and The Law on Broadcasting, that created one of the most liberal legal regimes' for freedom of speech and expression. Several policy concepts developed by the Liberty Institute have been adopted by the government, among them the Anti-Corruption Strategy and the Educational Reform Concept. Apart from the Tbilisi head office, Liberty Institute operates five regional offices in Georgia, and provides thousands of citizens annually with legal consultancies.While defence of human rights remained to be a top priority for the institute, with time, it has extended its focus on various fields:
- The Liberty Institute supported the development of the investigative journalism in Georgia. Givi Targamadze, Chief Coordinator of Journalistic Investigations Program of the Institute conducted a number of journalistic investigations, published in newspapers seriously contributed to the dismissal of the Minister of Communications, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Energy, from their positions in 1998-2000. In the frame of Anticorruption campaign Liberty Institute a lot of time named the Corruption and legal violations in the government. In 1998-2000 Anticorruption activities of the Liberty Institute and by its members were enjoyed high degree of publicity: criminal activities of David Bezhuashvli, MP, and Levan Mamaladze, governor of the Kvemo-Kartli region; Corruption and legal violations at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Communications; Participation of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Security in smuggling tobacco, petroleum and pure alcohol; Criminal interests and illegal business activities of President Shevardnadze's family.
- Since 2001 together with the students' movement the LI carried out the anticorruption campaign at the Tbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili State UniversityTbilisi State UniversityIvane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University , better known as Tbilisi State University , is a university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. TSU is the oldest university in the whole Caucasus region...
. In the frame of the campaign the survey was held and the corrupt faculties and lecturers were publicly named. The members of the movement investigated the facts of misuse of University funds and multiple financial abuses. Materials found by the LI were handed to Anticorruption Council and Prosecutor's Office.
- First protest to denounce religious violence was carried out by the Institute on October 19, 1999. Liberty Institute protested against religious extremism and of violence against religious minorities. Liberty Institute made these problems discussed by the public. Since 1998 Liberty Institute protested against religious extremism existed in the Orthodox Church of Georgia, the Liberty Institute always strictly reacted on every fact of violation of religious freedom and carried 2 cases in the constitutional court. The Liberty Institute strictly reacted and denounced attack on the Baptist Church by the Police in TianetiTianetiTianeti is a town in east-central Georgia, in the Caucasus Mountains. It is located at around .Tianeti is situated in the North-Eastern part of Georgia . According to the 2002 State Census, its population was 3598 people...
region; Attack on congregation of the Evangelist Church "Madli" in the Gldani District of Tbilisi; Illegal arrest of religious literature on the border by the State. It always protected rights of Jehovah's Witnesses, when Basil Mkalavishvili and his supporters were attacking them and protested the cessation of registration of Jehovah's Witnesses by court; Liberty Institute was fighting against the trend of transferring churches belonging to the Catholics to the Orthodox Church by the state and protected the rights of Orthodox congregations that do not belong to the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate. Religious extremism became the subject of active public debates in Georgia following Liberty Institute’s campaigns against violations of religious rights. Liberty Institute also initiated two cases defending the rights of religious minorities at the Constitutional Court.
- One of the main directions of the Institute's activism has been prevention and aversion of facts of illegal arrest, torture during the pre-trial detention and prevention of the illegal actions and violation of the human rights in the law enforcement agencies. In 1998, the Liberty Institute carried out a special project, which aimed to monitor the Police raids. As a result of which a lot of fact of illegalness and torture was found. In 2000, based on the initiative of the Liberty Institute, a Public Review Board was established at the Ministry of Justice. The council has been a major mechanism of civil control of the penitentiary system. In 2004 Liberty Institute together with Ombudsman's office created Public Councils, the members of which have a right to enter and carry the monitoring over the pre-trial detention and police stations at any time without restrictions.
- Liberty Institute supported the youth movements in Georgia. Liberty Institute encouraged the development of youth movements such as independent student's self-governing bodies within the Universities and created civil liberties youth network throughout the country; Due to Liberty Institute activities the first active youth movement KmaraKmaraKmara is a civic resistance movement in the republic of Georgia which undermined the government of Eduard Shevardnadze. After international observers condemned his government's conduct of the November 2003 parliamentary elections, Kmara led the protests which precipitated his downfall in what...
emerged in Georgia in 2003 and has already played a crucial role in defending and promoting civil and political rights in Georgia. Liberty Institute provided 800 activists with practical trainings. Currently, within the framework of the Civil Liberties Youth Network, Liberty Institute leads a series of youth debates in Georgia’s regions aimed at promoting civic values and anti-corruption ethics among high school and local university students through discussions on the history and philosophy of constitutional rights among youth. The goal of the debates is also to foster critical thinking and leadership skills among youth.
- Liberty Institute prepared the first Professional Standards of Media in Georgia in 2003, which was adopted by the major national and regional TV Companies and newspapers.
- Liberty Institute is also active in terms of legal initiatives and has an experience of legal drafting. The Law on the Freedom of Speech and Expression adopted by the Parliament of Georgia in 2004 was prepared by the LI. This law was estimated by the Georgian and international experts as the most democratic law in the post-communistic area. In 2004 the Parliament of GeorgiaParliament of GeorgiaParliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
adopted the Law on Broadcasting also prepared by the Liberty Institute. According this law on the basis of the state TV the Public Broadcasting Service will be developed. Liberty Institute proposed constitutional amendment to introduce the jury system and now works on drafting of criminal procedural code. The Parliament of Georgia accepted this proposal in 2004. In 2003 The Parliament of Georgia adopted the Law about confiscation of illegally earned property. In 1997 prepared the Freedom of Information chapter of the General Administrative Code, which was adopted in 1999 by the Parliament.
- The liberty Institute has campaigned for the establishment of effective civil control over the human rights; LI provides practical help to local communities to defend their rights. These activities include individual legal consultation, Court representational activities and civil campaigns to make the society mobilized over the specific facts of violation of human rights.
- Liberty Institute has always participated and supported the educational reform in Georgia. The part of the law of the education accepted by the parliament of Georgia in 2004 was created in the LI. The part covers the rights of students and academic freedom. According the LI initiative the School boards in public schools was created in Georgia since 2003.
Liberty Institute consistently provides resources, trainings and support for the whole diversity of social and professional groups enhancing effectiveness, professionalism, and active citizenship, principles of civil responsibility, accountability and transparency within society. A number of LI publications were approved as textbooks by the major higher education institutions in Georgia. The books are used at the faculties of Journalism and Law.
Violence
During the years the LI number of times became the object of the attacks from the government officials and the extremist groups. On July 10, 2002, a group (20) of seemingly well-trained vandals burst into the office of the Liberty Institute and physically injured members of the organisation Levan RamishviliLevan Ramishvili
Levan Ramishvili is a key figure in Georgia's democracy movement, which successfully forced authoritarian Eduard Shevardnadze to resign through strategic nonviolent action...
, Sozar Subari
Sozar Subari
Sozar Subari is a Georgian journalist and human rights activist who served as a Public Defender of Georgia from 2004 to 2009....
, David Zurabishvili
David Zurabishvili
David Zurabishvili is a Georgian politician and the leading member of the Republican Party of Georgia. He has been a member of parliament since 2004 and is Chairman of opposition faction Democratic Front in Parliament of Georgia....
, Giga Phrangishvili and Dali Tskitishvili. They destroyed office equipment and the office itself. Accidentally, during the pogrom, experts of the Council of Europe were present. This act of violence received wide resonance from local and international media. However, the incident has not yet been investigated.
Liberty institute has provided legal consultancy for thousands of people for defending their rights. During the years by the public campaigns, lawyer, educational and legislative activities LI aimed to establish democratic and liberal values, public accountability, control mechanisms and support the development of democratic institutions in Georgia.