2012

mediasTan

urTierTobis

standartebi

saqarTveloSi

samarTlebrivi analizi

20122012 2012

STANDARDS

OF MEDIA

RELATIONS

IN GEORGIA

LEGAL ANALYSIS

2012

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Was edited and published in the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association 15, J. Kakhidze st. Tbilisi 0102, Georgia(+99532) 293 61 01, 295 23 53

Coping or Disseminating of publication for commercial purpose without GYLA’s written permission is prohibited

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------© 2012, The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association

Authors:

Assistant:

Editor:

Tech. Editor:

Responsible of publication:

NATIA KAPANADZEMARIAM GOGOSASHVILI

MARIAM GAIPARASHVILI

KHATUNA KVIRALASHVILI

IRAKLI SVANIDZE

TAMAR CHUGOSHVILI

“The content and opinions expressed herein belong to the authors and do not reflect their views of the U.S Government, USAID, or IREX”.

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CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 2

• Researchmethodology.........................................................................5

• Researchgoal............................................................................................6

• KeyFindings..............................................................................................6

2. STANDARDS OF RELATIONS WITH MEDIA – ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTED BY GYLA ..................... 7

3. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................ 31

• Problemsidentified.............................................................................31

• Anticipatedobstaclesintheprocess ofworkingonchanges.......................................................................35

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“Let the people know the facts and the country will be safe”.

Abraham Lincoln

1. INTRODUCTIONRecentlyanumberofflawshavebeenrevealedintheprocessofre-lationsbetweenmediarepresentativesandpublicagencies.Someofthe journalists reported that purpose of press centerswas to planhowtopreventpublicofficialsfromcommenting,asopposedtosim-plifyingthecommunication.Representativesofregionalmediawerefacingparticularproblemsintheirrelationsbothwithmunicipalaswellascentraladministrativeagencies.Frequentlysomemediarepresentativeshadnoaccesstomeetingsorpresentationsscheduledbyadministrativeagencies.Mediawas clearly divided into the categories of pro-governmentalandanti-governmental.Allmediaorganizations criticizing thegov-ernmentweredeemedasanti-governmental–theylackedaccesstoinformationandtheprivilegeofreceivinginformationfromtheau-thorities,whereastheso-calledpro-governmentalmediamanagedtoeasilyreceive informationfrombothsources. Itmustalsobetakenintoaccountthatduringpre-electionprocesstalkshowshotsonbothtypesoftelevisionchannelsfrequentlyresortedtotheuseofbiasedanddiscriminatorycomments.1TheUSAmbassadortoGeorgiaH.E.JohnBassalsocommentedaboutmediaenvironmentinGeorgia.InhisinterviewwithRezonansinews-paper,theAmbassadornoted:mediaisanadditiontothepolarizedpoliticalsituationinthecountry.Mediaoutletsareoftenadjustedtothevariouspoliticalspectrumsandasaresulttothepeopleandout-side the country and local government representation, the specificmediaoutletsareassociatedwiththespecificpoliticalviewpoints”.Hethoughtthatfrequentlytherewerecaseswhenofficialsmakede-cisionsregardingaccessofinformationtojournalistsandinvitationtotheeventsaccordingtowhichpoliticalpowertheyareassociatedwith.The Ambassador noted: “It’s important that media outlets have

1http://qartia.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/report-3part_sept-2012.pdf

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equalaccesstothepublicorothereventsandtoexcludethecasesofselection.”2Notably, theworkofmediawasmadeparticularlydifficult startingfromSpring2012,aftertheChamberofControlofGeorgia(thathasnowbeenrenamedastheStateAuditOfficestartedinterviewingciti-zens.OnMarch20,2012,astatementwaspublishedontheofficialwebsite of the SAO3, stating that “administrativeproceedingswereongoingattheOfficeofPoliticalPartyFundingMonitoring,intotheillegalfundingofmembersofthelegalentityofpubliclawGeorgianDreambynaturalpersonBidzina Ivanishvili, fromhispersonal ac-count…” In relation to these proceedings, head of the SAO LevanBezhashvili informed journalists onMarch 13, 2012, that they are“verifyingwhetherfinancialreportingofpoliticalpartiesthroughoutthe regions is in compliancewith law… information isverifiedandcollected,thenexaminedagainstdeclarationssubmittedbypoliticalpartiestotheChamberofControlforensuringtransparencyoftheirwork.”Notably,theseinterviewsoccurredinvariousregionsofGeor-gia.Mostfrequently,citizensweresummonedtoofficesoflocalmu-nicipalities.Althoughtheproceedingswereadministrativeinnature,journalistswereprohibitedfromattending.TheGeorgianMediaLe-galDefenseCentermadeastatementinresponsetothesedevelop-ments,callinglawenforcementauthoritiestoexamineindetailsandinvestigateintoallegedillegaldisruptionsofjournalisticreportingintheprocessofquestioningofcitizensbytheChamberofControlofGeorgia.4Furthermore,rulesofmovementwithinofficesofmunicipalauthori-tiesinvariousregionsofGeorgiaweremodifiedandtightened.Lat-er,withtheinvolvementofGYLA’s lawyers,unlawfulacts issuedbyOzurgeti and Chokhatauri Sakrebuloswere deemed null and void.Inparticular,OzurgetiMunicipalitySakrebuloandChokhatauriMu-nicipalitySakrebulodeemedindividualadministrativelegalactsad-optedbyChairpersonsoftheseSakrebulosasnullandvoidonApril25,2012andMay25,2012,respectively.Theseactshadbeenissuedtoregulaterulesofadmissionandmovementofcitizensinofficesoflegislative agencies, placing illegal restrictions on their freedomofmovement.

2http://www.epn.ge/?p=1106963http://control.ge/news/id/4284http://www.gyla.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1231%3A2012-03-14-09-39-34&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=177&lang=ka

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Theseactshadbeenissuedbyunauthorizedindividuals,regulatingtemporaryorpermanentandmultipleuseofthegeneralruleofcon-duct.UndertheLawofGeorgiaonNormativeActsprohibitsadoptionofanormativeactintheformofanindividuallegalactandviceversa.Furthermore,orderofSakrebuloChairpersoninbothcasesappliednotonlytorepresentativebuttoexecutiveagenciesaswell.Citing the order adopted by Sakrebulo Chairperson, onMarch 13,2012, journalist Nato Gogeliawas not allowed to access offices ofChokhatauriMunicipality Gamgeoba. Therefore, shewas unable todropoffanapplicationrequestingaccesstopublicinformation.Simi-lar factoccurredonMarch16,2012, inOzurgeti,against journalistZhanaMegrelishvili.Shewaspreventedfromdroppingofanapplica-tionwiththeGovernor’sAdministration.Journalistsfiledforadministrativeproceedingsincourt,requestingannulmentoftheforegoingindividualadministrative-legalact.TheirinterestsweredefendedbyGYLA’slawyer.Bothcaseswereconcludedsuccessfully,withoutmainhearingincourt.SakrebulosofbothOzur-geti and Chokhatauri deemed individual administrative-legal actsadoptedbytheirrespectiveGovernorsasnullandvoidimmediatelyafterbringingthecaseagainstthemincourt.5Astheimpugnedactwasdeemednullandvoid,journalistswithdrewtheircasefrompreparatorystageandreceivedtheirrefundsforfeespaidforthecourtproceedings.Notably,laterinJuly2012,theprocedureofmovementinKutaisiCityHallwasamended.“Restrictionsimposedagainstjournalistentailedprohibitionformediarepresentativestoaccessthebuildingbypass-es.Passesintheirturnareissuedonlywhentherespondentiswill-ingtomeetthejournalist.KetiDeisadze,LeadPressandPublicRela-tionsSpecialistatKutaisiCityHall,explainedthattherewasnoorderplacingrestrictiononmovementofjournalistswithintheKutaisiCityHalloffices.Latershestatedthatduetoamendmentstotheinternalregulations,journalistsnowhadtoobtainanpassinordertoaccessthebuildingandreachrespondents”,6whichwasprotestedbylocaljournalists.Thus,recentlyanumberofinstancesofdisruptionofjournalisticre-portingwererevealed,relatedtomovementwithinadministrativeof-

5http://www.gyla.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1362%3A2012-07-02-11-32-24&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=177&lang=ka6http://news.ge/ge/news/story/22958-tavisufali-media-shezghudvebis-gareshe

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ficesandproceduresofinterviewingarespondent.GYLAbelievesthatrelationswithmediabyadministrativeagenciesremainoneofthepressingissuesinGeorgia.Notably,withfinancialsupportfromOSCEMissiontoGeorgia,onOctober18-19inDabaGu-dauri,firstworkingmeetingwithrepresentativesofpressofficesandjournalistswasheldonFOIissues.Themeetingaimedatidentifyingstanding issues in this fieldand facilitatingdiscussionsaboutwaystoregulatetheseissues.Representativesofpressservices,PRoffices,televisions,radios,newspapersandnewsagenciesfromacrossvari-ousregionsofGeorgiaparticipatedintheworkingmeeting.Partici-pantsidentifiedthefollowingkeyproblems:

• Lackofuniformstandardsinthefieldofdutiesandresponsi-bilitiesofpressservices;

• Lowqualityofindependenceofpressservices;• Problems inproviding complete information inanoperative

manner;• Failureoflawenforcementauthoritiestoprovideinformation;• Rareapplicationoflegalmechanismsbyjournalists• Trendofunsubstantiated refusal toprovideaccess topublic

information.Itmustbehighlightedthatby2012theforegoingissuesremainedtobeproblematic.

Research Methodology TheresearchfocusedonanalysisofrelationswithmediainGeorgiafounded on facts observed by GYLA and public information it hadrequested fromvariouspublic agencies.To this end,weapplied toMinistries,courtsandregionaladministrativeagencieswithfollow-inginquiries:1. Isthereaspecialdocumentwithinyouragency,stipulatingstan-

dards of relations (communication) with media? If yes, pleaseprovidethedocumentation

2. If no, what rules apply tomovement of a journalist within thebuilding,schedulinganinterviewandinterviewingapublicser-vant?Pleaseprovideapplicableregulations

3. Whichdocumentsregulatemovementofcitizenswithinofficesofyouragency?Pleaseproviderelevantdocuments

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4. Whichdepartmentistaskedwithmediarelationsinyouragency?(Please,providePOCs)

5. Whichdepartmentistaskedwithrelationswithcitizensinyouragency?(Please,providePOCs)

Theresearchconsistsofthefollowingparts:Introduction–describingproblemsinrelationswithmediaBody–analysisofpublicinformationprovidedbypublicagenciesConclusion – based on components examined, GYLA offers legalmethodsandrecommendationsforsolvingtheproblem.

Research GoalResearchingstandardsofrelationswithmediaIdentifyingstandingproblemsRaisingpublicawarenessOfferingwaystosolvetheproblem

Key findings of the research:Administrativeagencieshavedevelopeddifferentstandardsofrela-tionswithmediaInmostofthecasesrelationswithmediaarenotregulatedunderaparticularactExistingproblemsaretoacertainextentrelatedtoapproachofinflu-entialpoliticalfigureswithmedia

RecommendationsIn the nearest futureworking on the development of standards ofrelationsbetweenadministrativeagenciesandmediamustbecom-mencedCertainchangesmustbemadetoapproaches/policytowardsmediarepresentativesItisimportantformediatotakeitsworkstandardstoahigherlevelontheirown–webelievethatoneofthestepsforincreasingtrustisrecognitionofstandardsofethicbymedia

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2. STANDARDS OF RELATIONS WITH MEDIA – ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTED BY GYLA

Public information fromadministrative agencieswas requesting in2012. Notably, all addressees provided their responses; however,frequentlyinformationwasincompleteandprovidedinviolationofdeadlinesestablishedbytheGeneralAdministrativeCodeofGeorgia.Tosimplifyperceptionofcontentsoftheinformationprovided,belowareindividualanswersreceivedfromeachagency:

Ministry of Culture and Monuments ProtectionTheMinistryinformedusthatrelationswithmediaandmovementofcitizenswithinofficesoftheMinistryisregulatedundertheMinis-try’sregulations.Article2oftheRegulationsdealswithfunctionsoftheofficeandobjectivesoftheMinistry.Undersubparagraphs“e”and“o”, admissionof citizens, facilitationof registrationof visitors andcontrolofadherencetouniversallyrecognizedprinciplesandnormsofrelationswithinternationalprotocolandmediaintheworkoftheMinistryfallsunderthepurviewoftheoffice.Further,wewereinformedthatrelationswithMediaarehandledbymediarelationsdivision(TamarChikhladze),andrelationswithciti-zensarehandledbymediarelationsdivisionandadministrativede-partment(TamarChihkadze,GiorgiMachitashvili).UnderArticle5oftheRegulations,mediarelationsdivisionispartoftheofficeoftheMinistry.Itsdutiesandresponsibilitiesincluderela-tionswithmedia,informingpublicatlargeaboutongoingprocessesattheMinistryanditsactivitiesbymeanspressandothermediaout-lets,dailymonitoringofpressandelectronicmediareports,andpro-vidingsummaryofreportstoleadershipoftheMinistry,monitoringnewsprogramson a regular basis and registering those related toeventsorganizedbytheMinistry.AccordingtotheinformationprovidedbytheMinistryofCultureandMonuments Protection ofGeorgia, there are some applicable stan-dardswith theMinistryof relationswithmediaandcitizens;how-ever, they are general andwe recommend that these standardsbeformulatedinaseparatedocumentindetails.

Ministry of Justice of GeorgiaTheMinistryofJustice(MOJ)ofGeorgiahasrespondedthat1. MediarelationsattheMOJarecoordinatedbythePublicRelations

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Divisionunder theMinistry’s administration,whoseduties andresponsibilitiesincludeprovidingworkingconditionsforjournal-ists,respondingtheirquestions,organizinginterviewsandbrief-ings.AnyjournalistcanattendpubliceventsattheMOJ.Thereisawebsiteavailableforadditionalinformation.

2. JournalistshavefreedomofmovementattheMOJ.Further,visitofa journalistmusthaveapriorconsentof thepublicrelationsofficeofMOJ’sadministration,inordertoensurethatmaximumassistanceisprovidedtothejournalistconcerned.

3. AdmissionofindividualsintheadministrativeofficesoftheMOJisregulatedundertheNovember17,2010OrderoftheMOJN647.

UnderArticle1oftheOrder, forthepurposeofensuringtheMOJ’snormalfunctioning,publicorder,enforcementofdisciplineandsecu-rity,accesstotheadministrativeofficesoftheMOJshouldbeallowedtonaturalpersonswhohavebeenissuedaone-timepass(visitor’scard)byspecialistsoftheMOJ’sadministration(department),uponregistrationofarequestforapassincorrespondingsoftwarebyau-thorizedindividualsanduponpresentationofanIDcard,apassportor a driver’s licenseby the individual concerned. If there softwareprogramhassuddenlystoppedrunning, request foranaccesspasscanbemadeuponverbalinstructionofanauthorizedindividualaftertheystatetheirrespectivepersonalcode.4. RelationswithmediaattheMOJfallunderthepurviewofthePub-

licRelationsOffice.WewereprovidedwithnameofthePOCandrespectivecontactdetails(telephonenumberande-mail).

5. RelationswithcitizensattheMOJaretheresponsibilityofthead-ministration.NameofthePOCwasprovided.

Notably, the information provided provides a detailed descrip-tion of issuing of an access pass and procedures for entering the building, for which there is a special staff of the Ministry. There are no special documents at the MOJ determining relations with media. This function has been undertaken by the MOJ’s Public Relations Office. Journalists enjoy freedom of movement in the MOJ offices; how-ever, the visit of a journalist must have a prior consent of the public relations office of MOJ’s administration, in order to en-sure that maximum assistance is provided to the journalist con-cerned. Thus, freedom of movement of a journalist largely de-pends on instructions of the Public Relations Office.

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Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia TheagencyreportedthatPublicRelationsDivisionunderAdminis-trativeDepartmentoftheMinistryofJusticecoordinatesmediarela-tionsintheProsecutor’sOfficeofGeorgia.Itprovidesworkingcondi-tionsforthejournalistswithintheProsecutor’sOffice,givesanswersonthequestions,organizesinterviewsandbriefings.AnyjournalistisfreetoattendpubliceventsattheProsecutor’sOffice.Asforaddi-tionalinformationaboutactivitiesofthePRdivision,theOfficeredi-rectedustoitsofficialwebsite,yetthespecificlinkwasnotindicated.GeneralProsecutor’sOfficealsoprovided that therearenorestric-tionsonjournalists’movementinadministrativebuilding.Yet,withaviewtoensuremaximalassistance,theirvisitshouldbenegotiatedwithPRdivisionoftheadministrativedepartmentundertheMinistryofJustice.Asforcitizens’admissionintheadministrativebuildingoftheGen-eralProsecutor’sOfficeofGeorgia, it is regulatedby theMinister’sOrder#647ofNovember17,2012.However,notwithstandingourde-mandthedocumentwasnotsubmitted.WemanagedtoreceivethedocumentfromtheMinistryofJustice.AccordingtotheresponseoftheGeneralProsecutor’sOffice,mediarelationsarethecompetenceofthePRdivisionoftheAdministrativeDepartment under theMinistry of Justice. TheMinistry submittedcontactinformationoftheindividualsobligedtocommunicatewithmediaandcitizens.Standards applied in the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia are identical.

The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs TheMinistry submitted theMinister’sOrder#191ofDecember30,2011 on “Citizens’ admission and media relations in the Ministryof Sport andYouthAffairs” and theOrder#23of July28,2010on“ApprovaloftheprotectionregimewithintheMinistryofSportandYouthAffairs.”AccordingtoArticle3,Order#191,PublicRelationsdivisionof theMinistrybecameobligedto:1. Receivemassmediarepresentativesinadministrativebuildingof

theMinistry;2. AgreeinterviewswithmanagementoftheMinistryandotherem-

ployees;

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3. MakestatementsonbehalfoftheMinistrywhennecessary.TheMinistryinformedthataccordingtotheRegulationsoftheagen-cy,mediarelationsarecarriedoutbyPublicRelationsdivisionoftheMinistry.Thenameofthecontactpersonwassubmitted.Itshouldbenotedthatnotwithstandingourdemand,theRegulation,entailingmedia relation (communication) standards,was not sub-mitted.AccordingtoParagraph1,Article191oftheOrder#191,theOfficeoftheMinistryshouldensure:1. reception of public by the Minister during the working hours

(uponagreementwiththeMinister)ontheissuesthatfallwithincompetenceoftheMinistry;

2. unrestrictedadmissionofpublicwithinworkinghoursbythefirstDeputyMinisterandotherDeputyMinistersontheissuescoordi-natedbythem;

TheOrderalsoprovidesthatwhennecessary,headsofthestructuralsub-unitsandotheremployeesoftheMinistryshouldensuresunre-strictedreceptionofcitizensduringworkinghoursontheissuesun-dertheircompetence.Order #23 defines rules of citizens’ admission in theMinistry. Ac-cordingtoArticlesecondoftheOrder,individualsareadmittedintheadministrativebuildingoftheMinistrybyone-timepassesissuedbycompetentofficialsoftheMinistry.TheOrderalsospecifiesthatanindividualshouldsubmitIDCardoftheGeorgianCitizen,passportoramilitaryticket,drivinglicenseorotheridentitycardissuedbythestateagency.Article9ofthesameOrderdefinesadmissionrulesintheMinistry,withoutapassandwithorwithoutavehicle,asexcep-tions.Admission of citizens in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs is prescribed in details. As for media relations, it is important to determined the issue as well.

Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia TheMinistryreportedthataccordingtotheRegulationoftheMinis-tryofEnergyandNaturalResourcesofGeorgiaPublicRelationsDe-partmentensuresmediarelationsintheMinistry,whichinexerciseofthefunction(coordinationofinterviewprocesswiththeMinistryemployee)isgovernedbyapplicablelegislationofGeorgia,includingtheRegulationoftheMinistry.Informationoncontactpersonswas

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alsosubmitted.Asforcitizens’movementintheadministrativebuilding,theMinis-tryprovidedthataccordingtotheRegulation,RecordsManagementdivision is competenton the coordinationof citizens’ reception. Inparticular,uponapplicationofinterestedindividualitensuresorga-nizationofmeetingswithrelevantofficialof theMinistry.Wewerealso informedthatstrangersareallowed in theMinistrybyspecialpasses.We also received information on contact persons from thementioneddivision.The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia sub-mitted responses on our questions without attaching relevant documents. It was figured out that the Ministry does not possess a special document determining media relations.

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia TheMinistry of Economyand SustainableDevelopment ofGeorgiareportedthatrecordingofpublicofficialbyajournalist,takingofaninterview andmovement in the administrative building should benegotiatedwithPublicRelationsDepartment,sinceaccordingtotheRegulationsoftheMinistry,theDepartmentisinchargeoffulfillingthisobligation.Informationprovisiondivisionofthedepartmenten-surescontactwithmedia. Informationoncontactpersonswasalsosubmitted.TheMinistryalsoinformedthatcitizens’movementwithintheMin-istryisregulatedbytheMinister’sorder#1-1/1284ofJune7,2012on“Grantingauthoritytoissueadmissionpassesintheadministra-tivebuildingof theMinistry ofEconomyandSustainableDevelop-mentofGeorgia”.AccordingtotheOrderemployeesoftheMinistryareadmitted in theadministrativebuildingvia electronic IDCardsofaGeorgianCitizen,furthermore,thedocumentalsoenvisagesthelistofcompetentpersonseligibletoissuethepassandrelevantrulesconnectedthereto.TheMinistryreportedaswellthatcitizens’lettersandapplicationsareexaminedbyrelevantstructuralunitsoftheMinistryinviewoftheir content. In addition, information service of theMinistry pro-videshotlineservicetothecitizens.Contactinformationwassubmit-ted.Even though the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Develop-

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ment of Georgia specifies the rules for citizens’ relations and their admission in administrative building, we lack opportunity to review media relations’ standards since submitted informa-tion was too general.

The Ministry of Environment Protection of Georgia TheMinistryofEnvironmentProtectionreportedthatmediarelationstandardsarenotregulatedbyanyspecialdocumentintheagency.JournalistsarefreetoreceiveinformationonanytopicandtoagreeinterviewwithrequiredpubicofficialinPublicRelationsService.In-formationoncontactpersonwasalsosubmitted.Asforrelationswithcitizens,theMinistrysubmittedMinister’sOrder#i-31ofJanuary25,2010whichregulatescitizens’admissionissuesintheadministrativebuilding.Accordingtotheorderthereisanap-provedscheduleforcitizens’meetingswithofficialsoftheMinistry,furthermore the document defines that the office of the ministershouldensureorganizationalarrangementsofmeetingswithofficialsoftheMinistry.Information submitted by the Ministry of Environment illus-trates that it has no established standards for media relations and no stipulated procedure for citizens’ movement.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia TheMinistryofInternalAffairsofGeorgiareportedthat accordingtothe“RegulationofthePublicAffairsDepartmentofMIA”,approvedby theMinister’sorder#532of July17,2012communicationwithpublicandmassmediaisthecompetenceofthisdepartmentanditischairedbytheheadofPublicAffairsDepartment.TheMIA also provided that rules onmovement of employees andstrangersontheplacesundertheprotectionoftheMIAareregulatedbytheorderoftheMinistryofInternalAffairs.The MIA failed to submit sufficient information. The documents acquired by GYLA on the official website of the Ministry illus-trate that the agency does not possess specifically prescribed standards for media and public relations.

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The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia TheMinistryreportedthatPublicRelationsServicecoordinatesme-dia relations there.TheServicehas the following competencies: toprovideworkingconditionsforjournalistsinthebuildingoftheMin-istry,toprovideanswersonthejournalists’questions,aswellastoorganize interviews and briefings. Movement of journalists withintheMinistryofRegionalDevelopmentandInfrastructureofGeorgiaisnotrestricted;howeverthevisitshouldbeagreedinadvancewithpublicrelationsserviceoftheMinistry,withaviewthatjournalistswereabletoreceivemaximalaid.TheMinistryalsoinformedthatitdoesnotpossessanyindividualornormativeadministrativeactdeterminingcitizens’movementinthebuilding.Public Relations Service is in charge ofmedia relationswithin theMinistryofRegionalDevelopmentandInfrastructureofGeorgia.TheMinistryalsosubmittedinformationonthecontactperson.It should be noted that in the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, media and public relations are regulated in an oral form and there are no written standards. In view of this, fulfillment of the standards in practice is questioned.

The Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia TheMinistryinformedthat,1. Thedivision formassmedia relationsunder the administrative

department coordinatesmedia relationswithin theMinistry ofCorrectionsandLegalAssistanceofGeorgia(MCLA).Itprovidesworkingconditionsforjournalistsinthebuildingoftheministry,answersquestions, andorganizes interviewsandbriefings.AnyjournalistcanattendpubliceventsattheMinistry.

2. Movement of journalists is not restricted in the administrativebuildingoftheMinistry.However,thevisitshouldbeagreedwithmassmediarelationsdivisioninadvance,withaviewtoprovidemaximalassistance.

3. IndividualsareadmittedintheMCLAadministrativebuildingbyspecialpassesforaninvitedguestwiththehelpofaspecialsoft-ware.TheMinistryprovidedthattheissueisregulatedbyArticle9of“InternalRegulationsof theMCLAOffice” approvedbytheMinister’sOrder#90of June15,2012,yetnotwithstandingourrequestthedocumentwasnotsubmitted.

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4. Massmediadivisionoftheadministrativedepartmentisinchargeofmedia relations. Information on the contact personwas alsosubmitted.

5. Administrativedepartmentcarriesoutrelationswithcitizens.Noinformationwassubmittedaboutthecontactperson.

It should be noted that media relations within the Ministry are regulated only by Article 9 of internal regulations and in the oral form. There are no stipulated standards for media relations in the Ministry.

Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Affairs of Georgia TheMinistryreportedthat:1. NolegalacthasbeenadoptedbytheMinisterofHealth,Laborand

SocialAffairsofGeorgiaregulatingmediarelationsstandards;2. According toparagrapha)Article186of the “Regulationof the

MinistryofHealthLaborandSocialAffairsofGeorgia”approvedbythegovernmentresolution#249of2005,Publicrelationsde-partmentisinchargeofmediarelations.

3. Rules of citizens’movement in theMinistry are defined by theMinister’sorder#01-92/oofApril17,2012on“Admissionofciti-zensinthebuildingoftheMinistryofHealth,LaborandSocialAf-fairsandorganizationofdisclosureofpublicinformation.”

4. PublicrelationsdepartmentisinchargeofpublicrelationswithintheMinistryasperparagraphc)Article186of theRegulationsoftheMinistryofHealth,LaborandSocialAffairsofGeorgia,ap-provedbytheGovernment’sresolution#249of2005.

In view of the above, no special rule has been adopted for media relations in the Ministry.

The Ministry of Finance of Georgia TheMinistryofFinanceofGeorgiareported thatmediaandpublicrelationsintheMinistryareregulatedbytheRegulationsoftheMin-istry,yetthedocumentwasnotsubmitted.Inaddition, theMinistry informed, thatpublic relationsdivisionofthebureauoftheMinistryofFinanceensuresrelationshipwithme-diaandcitizens,aswellaslogisticdivisionoftheadministrativede-partmentoftheMinistryofFinanceandpermitbureau.Thenamesofcontactpersonswerealsosubmitted.

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According to the information acquired by us on the official web-site of the Ministry of Finance, there are no specified standards for media and public relations in the Ministry.

The Office of the State Minister on Diaspora Issues TheofficeoftheStateMinisteronDiasporaIssuesreportedthatme-diarelationstandardsarenotregulatedbyanyspecialdocument.Asforthequestionabouttheprocedureformovementofjournalistsintheadministrativebuilding,theOfficeoftheStateMinisterprovidedthatsincetheOfficeislocatedwithinthebuildingoftheGovernmentChancellery,theagencyisauthorizedtodiscloserequestedpublicin-formation.Inthisstateagency,press-speaker(thechiefspecialist)isinchargeofmediarelations.Communicationwithcitizensisundertakenbycor-respondencelettersaswellasviatheweb-page.Ifthereisaneces-sity,citizensareadmittedintheadministrativebuildingwithpassesintherelevantdepartments(administrativedepartment,reception,thetopicaccordingtothecompetence.)WewerealsoinformedthatcontactinformationisindicatedontheofficialwebsiteoftheOfficeoftheStateMinisteronDiasporaIssues.It should be noted that mentioned topics are not regulated in the Ministry.

The Office of the State Minister on Euro-Atlantic Integration TheOfficeoftheStateMinisteronEuro-AtlanticIntegrationreportedthatit is locatedintheGovernmentChancelleryandtherefore,citi-zens’movementisregulatedaccordingtotherulesestablishedbythegovernmentchancellery.TheyalsoinformedthatNatiaChikovani,adviseroftheMinisterisinchargeofmediarelations,whileTamarMelashvili,headofadminis-trativedepartment,coordinatespublicrelations.The response received from the Office of the State Minister on Euro-Atlantic Integration similarly to the response from Office of the State Minister on Diaspora Issues proves that the office has no special document determining media and public relation standards.

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The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia TheMinistryprovidedthatithasnotspeciallyelaborateddocumentenvisagingstandardsforrelationswithmedia.Accordingtothees-tablishedpractice,ajournalistcommunicateswithPRServiceoftheMinistry, and afterwardsmovement in the administrative buildingandtakingofaninterviewisallowed.Citizensareadmittedinthebuildingbymeansofpasses.ThespecialformofthepassisestablishedbytheMinister’sOrderofJanuary31,2007.NotwithstandingourdemandtheorderwasnotsubmittedbytheMinistry.PublicandMediaRelationsdivisionundertheMinistryisinchargeofrelationswithmediaandcitizens,yetthenameofthecontactpersonwasnotsubmittedbytheMinistry.According to the information submitted by the Ministry of Inter-nally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia it is evident that the Ministry has no determined standards for relations with media and citizens.

Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration Submitted response provided, that the office of the state Ministerdoesnotpossessaspecialdocumentonmediarelationsstandards.Ajournalist,willingtorecordtheemployeeoftheofficeshouldnegoti-atetheinterviewwithhim/her,orwithTamarKochoradze-respon-siblepersononmediarelations (headof theDivision forRelationswithInternationalOrganizationsandProjectManagement).TheOfficeislocatedintheadministrativebuildingoftheGovernmentChancelleryofGeorgia.Theagencyhasnotspeciallyelaborateddocu-mentintermsofcitizens’movementintheadministrativebuilding.ElizoLomidze,acontactpersonfromPoliticalAnalysisandPublicRe-lationsUnitisresponsibleonpublicrelations.According to the information submitted by the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration, it is evident that the agen-cy has no special document determining standards for media re-lations. The standards for citizens’ movement in the administra-tive building are not provided either.

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The Ministry of Agriculture of GeorgiaAccording to the submitted letter, Public Relations Department isfunctioningwithintheMinistryforcommunicationwithpublicandmassmedia.RegulationofthePublicRelationsDepartmentwasap-provedbytheMinister’sorder#2-23ofFebruary2,2012.AccordingtoArticle2,Paragraphbof thedocument, thekey functionsof thedepartmentarethefollowing:tohaverelationswithmassmediaandtoinformpublicabouttheimplementedactivitieswithinthecompe-tenceoftheMinistry.AccordingtoParagraph1,Article5oftheDocu-ment thedivision forRelationshipwithPressorganizespress-con-ferencesandbriefings,preparespressreviews,ensuresaccreditationof journalists in theMinistry, andpromotesmeetingsof interestedindividualswithhighofficialsoftheMinistry.Throughitsinternalaudit,theMinistryensurestransparencyoftheimplementedactivities,promotionandestablishmentofpubliccon-trolmechanismandetc.Information submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture illustrates that it has standards for public and media relations, yet the doc-ument is general.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia TheMinistryinformedthat1. Media relation issueswithin theMinistry are Regulated by the

“Rule of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on relationswithmassmedia”approvedbytheMinister’sorder#266onNo-vember17,2006.TheOrderprovidesthatallunitsoftheMinis-tryareobligedtosubmitinformationaboutongoingissuestotheDepartmentofPressandInformationsystematically.TheDepart-mentarrangesspecialpress-conferencesandbriefings,aswellasnegotiatestheinterviewsandquestionsamongmediarepresen-tativesandtheMinisteranddeputyMinisters.Therulesforcon-ductofbriefingsarealsospecified.

2. ConditionsforpublicmovementinthecentralofficeoftheMin-istryofForeignAffairsareprescribedbythe“RulesforensuringsecurityintheadministrativebuildingoftheMinistryofForeignAffairsofGeorgiaanditsnearbyterritories”approvedbytheMin-ister’sorder#94ofApril24,2009.Theorderenvisagestherulesforissuingone-timepassesandthelistofeligiblepersonstodoso.Amendments introduced to theorderwerealso releasedbytheMinistry.

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3. IaMakharashvili,IrakliVekua,NinoTinikashvili,MaiaAbulashvili,KhatunaDarakhvelidze,EkaJanjgava,BelaGomurashviliandMaiaShalibashvili,employeesofPressandInformationDepartmentareinchargeofmediarelationswithintheMinistryofForeignAffairs.

4. Structuralunitsof theMinistryofForeignAffairsalsocarryoutpublic relationswith citizenson the issueswithin their compe-tence.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has specifically determined stan-dards for relations with media and citizens.

The Ministry of Defense of Georgia InformationsubmittedbytheMinistryprovidesthat:1. PublicAffairsDepartmentof theadministrationof theMinistry

coordinatesmedia relations. It is in charge of organizingmeet-ings,press-conferencesandbriefingswithpublicandmediarep-resentatives,organizesmassmediavisitsonmilitaryspots.

2. The relevant individual-administrative act of theMinister regu-latestheissueofadmittingindividualsinadministrativebuildingsoftheMinistry.

3. TheHeadofPublicAffairsDepartmentoftheMinistryisinchargeofmediarelations.

4. PublicRelationsDepartmentoftheMinistryadministrationisinchargeofpublicrelations.

Government Chancellery of Georgia The Chancellery reported that Press Service of the Prime-MinisterofGeorgia(contactperson:ZurabGvenetadze–HeadoftheService)ensures coordination of media relations, provision of answers onjournalists’questions,organizationof interviewsandbriefingsandunrestrictedmovement of journalists in administrative building ofGovernmentChancelleryofGeorgia(withadvanceagreement).Thestandardsofrelationshipwithmediaaswellasrulesforcitizens’movementintheadministrativebuildingoftheGovernmentChancel-leryarenotregulatedlegally.Thespecialsecurityservice,uponpre-liminarynoticeoftherelevantofficialoftheChancellery,implementscontroloncitizens’entryinadministrativebuilding.Records Management Service (contact person: Levan Erikashvili,headoftheService)oftheadministrativedepartmentoftheChancel-leryisinchargeofpublicrelations.

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Information submitted by the Government Chancellery of Geor-gia illustrates that the agency has no established standards for media relations. It does not either possess determined rules for citizens’ movement within administrative building. It is a prob-lem for the agency since responsible persons have to define the manner of conduct on each specific case. It might lead to estab-lishment of non-uniform practice.

The State Audit Service TheStateAuditServicecarriesoutrelationswithmassmediawithPatiMamiashvili’sassistance,achiefspecialistoftheorganizationaldivisionofadministrativedepartmentoftheStateAuditService.Wereceivedhercontact information.Otheremployeesof thesamede-partmentareinchargeofpublicrelationsandtheircontactinforma-tionwasalsosubmitted.Wewerealsonotifiedthatinviewofpublicinterestsandstatedissues,relevantstructuralunitoftheStateAuditServicecarriesoutpublicrelations.Asforcitizens’admissioninadministrativebuildingoftheStateAuditService,theagencysubmittedOrder#173/42(June3,2009)oftheheadofChamberofControlon “approval of the ruleon issuing IDCardsfortheemployeesoftheChamberofControl,temporaryone-time,specialandcarpassesandcitizens’admissioninadministrativebuildingof theChamberofControl”and theOrder#38/37(March12,2012)oftheheadofChamberofControl“onintroducingamend-mentstotheOrder#84ofJune8,2007intermsofapprovaloftheInternalRegulationsoftheChamberofControlofGeorgia.”TheOrderstipulatestherulesofissuingpasses,aswellasproceduresofcontrol,includingcarriageofprohibitedobjectintheadministra-tivebuilding.We,however,havenotreceivedinformationaboutthetypeofprohibitedobjects.Uponoralorderofthecompetentofficial,individualalsobecameobligedtoleaveatthesecuritydeskcommu-nication and other technical facilities togetherwith prohibited ob-jects,duringhis/hertemporarystayintheadministrativebuilding.It should be noted, that according to media relation standards established by the State Audit Service, “competent persons” are granted wide discretion and in certain cases it allows applica-tion of divergent standards.

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Tbilisi City Hall PublicandMediaRelationsServicechairedbyTamarKukhrashviliisestablishedwithinadministrationofTbilisiCityHallwithaviewtoensure relationswithmedia,movementof journalists in thebuild-ing,negotiationofaninterviewandrecordingofpublicofficials.Asfor relationswith citizens, it is provided by organizational service–Citizens’ServiceCenter(division),chairedbyNanaKajaia,withinadministrationofTbilisiCityHall.AdmissioninadministrativebuildingofTbilisiCityhallisregulatedbyresolution#63(January22,2008)oftheheadofadministration.Thedocumentspecifiesthatindividualsinthebuildingareadmittedviapasses.Theresolutionalsoprovidesthelistofofficialswhoareeligibletoissuethepasses.Information submitted by Tbilisi City Hall illustrates that the agency has no special document determining standards for me-dia and public relations.

Tbilisi Local Council TheofficeofTbilisiLocalCouncilsubmitteditsdecision#1-4ofOcto-ber13,2006on“ApprovaloftheRegulationsofTbilisiLocalCouncilanditsStructure”and“OnAdmissionProceduresinthebuildingofTbilisiLocalCouncil”,order#642(June25,2008)oftheheadoftheofficeofTbilisiLocalCouncil.WewerealsonotifiedthatinTbilisiLocalCouncilmediarelationsareregulatedbyPublic andMediaRelationsUnit of the Local Council,whilerecordsmanagementunit is inchargeofpublicrelations.Wealsoreceivednamesoftheheadsofdepartments.According to Article 13 of the decision#1-4 (October 13, 2006) ofTbilisiLocalCouncil,oneofthekeyobjectivesofrecordingsmanage-mentunitiscitizens’reception,registrationoftheirletters,applica-tionsandrecommendationsandpreparationofstatisticaldata.AccordingtoArticle15ofthedecision,keyobjectivesofPublicandMediaRelationsDepartmentisreportingontheactivitiesofthelo-cal council, informingmassmedia representatives on the plannedactivities,organizationofpress-conferencesandbriefings,annualac-creditationof journalists in the localCouncil, analysesofmaterialsbroadcastedbypressandmassmedia,cooperationwithmassmediaandcivilorganizationrepresentatives.The order #642 (June 25, 2008) on “Admission Procedures in the

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buildingofTbilisiLocalCouncil”adoptedbytheheadoftheofficeofLocalCouncilprovidesfortheformofone-timepermitforadmissionofcitizensinthebuildingandthelistofindividualsauthorizedtois-suesuchpermits.Submitted information illustrates that Tbilisi Local Council has determined standards for relations with media and citizens and has defined rules for citizens’ reception. Yet, it should be noted that standards are general and do not specify what is implied under cooperation with mass media and civil society organiza-tions.

The Supreme Court of GeorgiaTheSupremeCourtofGeorgiainformedthatPublicandMediaRela-tionsDepartment(NanaVasadze,thechiefconsultant)isinchargeofmediarelations.ThefunctionsoftheServicearedefinedbytheRegu-lationoftheSupremeCourtthatisavailableonitsofficialweb-page.Accordingtotheinformationprovidedontheweb-page“withaviewtoestablisheffectivesystemofinformationsubmissionontheopera-tionoftheSupremeCourtofGeorgia,PublicandMediaRelationsDe-partment”

a) arrangesbriefings,press-conferencesandotherevents;b) meetspressandothermassmediarequirementsaccordingto

therulesestablishedbyGeorgianlegislation;c) preparespress-releases,newslettersandotherprintmateri-

als;d) coordinatesrelationsamongmediaandspeaker judgesfrom

othercourts;e) implementsaccreditationofjournalistsintheSupremeCourt;f) collects and analyzes information from print and electronic

media.TheSupremeCourtalsoinformedthatPublicRelationsSectoroftheCommon Department (Zviad Khujadze, the chief consultant) is inchargeofpublicrelations.Inthebuilding,theregimeofpassisap-pliedfromthethirdfloor,whilecitizensareabletoreceiveallinter-estinginformationinpublicreceptionlocatedonthegroundfloor.There is no special document determining media relations.

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Kutaisi Appeal Court KutaisiAppealCourtinformedthataccordingtothestafflist,KhatunaOmnadze,presssecretaryofHumanResourceandOrganizationaldi-visionisinchargeofpressandmediarelations.Therefore,withas-sistanceofpress secretaryandspeaker judge it ispossible toplanmediacommunication(an interview).As forcitizens’movement inthecourt,theissueisregulatedbytheorder#69ofJune1,2012andorder#83ofJune19,2012issuedbytheheadoftheAppealCourt.Although the copies of the documents were released, theymainlyprovidetherulesforphoto,audio,videorecordinginthecourtbuild-ing,aswellasspecifytherulesforaudiorecording,stenographandretransmission.Thecourtalsoreportedthatadministrativeofficeandcitizens’recep-tionunitareinchargeofrelationswithcitizens.It should be noted, that according to submitted information Tbilisi Appeal Court has no standards for media relations, yet the emphasize is made on interview planning.

Tbilisi Appeal Court TbilisiAppealCourt informed thataccording to thestaff list,presssecretary of the head of the court is in charge of press andmediarelations.ByAugust9,thepositionwasvacant,yetitisunknownifthepositionwasoccupiedbyanybody.Thecourtalsoreportedthatuponadvanceagreementwiththeheadofthebureau,communica-tion(interview)withmediamaybeplannedwiththeassistanceofthespeakerjudge.Asforcitizens’movementinthecourtbuilding,thecourtsubmittedthecopyoftheorder#061/3ofMay31,2012issuedbytheheadofTbilisiAppealCourtwhichmainlyregulatestherulesforphoto,au-dio,videorecording,aswellasdefinestherulesforaudiorecording,stenographandretransmission.Thecourtalsoreportedthatadministrativeofficeandcitizens’recep-tiondivisionareinchargeofpublicrelations.Thehot-lineofTbilisiAppealCourtwasalsosubmitted.It should be noted, that according to submitted information, there is no media relations standard in the Appeal Court, they are only limited to planning of interviews. Moreover, in the mo-ment of disclosing information the position of a person respon-sible on media relations was undefined.

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Tbilisi City Court TbilisiCityCourtreportedthataccordingtothestafflist,nostructur-alunitisdeterminedwithinthecourtintheformofadivision,unitorserviceformediarelationsandKetevanBasilashvili(presssecre-tary),theleadingspecialistoftheofficeandGvantsaMikuchadze,aconsultantforpressandmediarelationsfulfillthefunction.Thecourtalsoinformedthatpresssecretaryofthecourtandrespon-siblepersonsformediarelationsaregovernedbytheorderofSep-tember6,2010issuedbytheheadofTbilisiCityCourt.Thedocumentspecifiestheircompetencies,yetthedocumentwasnotsubmitted.Asforcitizens’movementinthecourtbuilding,thecourtsubmittedcopyoftheorder#28/01ofJune19,2012issuedbytheheadofTbili-siCityCourtwhichmainlyregulatestherulesforphoto,audio,videorecording,aswellasdefinestherulesforaudiorecording,stenographandretransmission.TheMinistryalsosubmittedhot-lineandinformationonthecontactperson.It should be noted, that according to submitted information, there is no media relations standard in the City Court, they are only limited to planning of interviews. Moreover, in the moment of disclosing information the position of a person responsible on media relations was undefined.

Constitutional Court of GeorgiaTheConstitutionalCourtreportedthatmediarelationsareregulatedbyArticle42ofthecourtregulations.TheArticleprovidesthat“Nolater thantwodaysprior to thehearing, thepress-secretaryof theConstitutionalCourtwarnsmassmediarepresentativesonthedateofthesessionandthetopictobediscussed.Ifmassmediarepresen-tativeiswillingtoimplementradio,videooraudiorecordingofthehearing,priortothestartofthehearingitappliestothespecificcourtwhichexaminestheissueandmakesdecisiononadmissibilitybeforethestartofthehearing.Withinthreedaysafteradoptionofthedeci-sion,press-secretaryoftheConstitutionalCourtinformsmassmediaabouttheactadoptedbythecourt.”Theguardserviceisresponsibleoncitizens’movement inthecourtbuilding(Article32 1of theOr-ganicLawofGeorgiaonConstitutionalCourt).LianaBegiashvili,headoforganizationalserviceisinchargeofrelationswithcitizens.ItshouldbenotedthataccordingtoArticle321oftheOrganicLawof

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GeorgiaonConstitutionalCourt,theguardoftheConstitutionalCourtshouldkeeppublicorderandsecurityinthecourtbuildingandonitsterritory.Thedocument,however,doesnotprovideanyinformationabout the functionof theConstitutional Court in termsof citizens’movement.The Constitutional Court failed to submit its regulation, but in-formation acquired by us illustrates that media relations are specified there, yet regulations in terms of citizens’ movement and relations needs to be determined.

Kutaisi City Hall Accordingtotheresolution#79(February4,2011)ofKutaisi localcouncil on “invalidationof September30,2009 resolution#229ofKutaisilocalcouncilconcerning“approvalofRegulationoftheofficeofKutaisiCityHall and the sampleof the seal” andonapprovaloftheRegulationofAdministrativeServiceofKutaisiCityHallandthesampleoftheseal”,themediaandpublicrelationsdivisionofthead-ministrative serviceofKutaisiCityHall is in chargeof cooperationwithmassmedia.TheRegulationspecifiestheobligationsofthedivi-sion,inparticular,it1. OrganizesparticipationofrepresentativesofKutaisiCityHall in

TVandradioprogramswiththeguestandexpertstatus;2. Preparestextfordisseminationinprintmedia;3. Organizespress-conferences,briefingsandpresentations;4. Preparestextstohighofficialsofthecityhallforpublicpresenta-

tions/interviews,briefings,press-conferences;5. Organizes public relations events: press-tours, open day meet-

ings,roundtablesandetc.;6. Processes TV-radio programs, print materials/books, booklets,

journals,newspapersandetc/projects,whichpromotesolvingofpublicrelationsobjectivesinKutaisiCityHall;

7. Disseminates informationaboutanticipatedevents, implementsaccreditationofjournalists;

8. Preparespress-releasesonanticipatedeventsandactivitiesintheCityHall;

9. Cooperateswithcivilsocietyorganizationsandmassmedia,takescareofsystematicinformingofthesocietyontheactivitiesoftheCityHallandfutureperspectives;

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Informationoncontactpersonswasalsoindicated.Theorder#424(October15,2010)oftheheadofKutaisilocalcoun-cilon“ApprovalofRegulationsofKutaisiCityHall”regulatescitizens’(including journalists) admission in the administrative building ofKutaisiCityHall.Articles19and20determinedtherulesofcitizens’admissionandelectronicpasses.KutaisiCityHallalsoprovidedthatresponsiblepersononcitizensad-missionisinchargeoforganizingcitizens’receptionandsubmittedcontactinformationoftheofficial.Kutaisi City Hall has specified standards for media relations, yet the rule for admission of citizens and media representatives are not separated.

Kutaisi Local Council KutaisiLocalCouncilsubmitteditsresolutions#1ofJuly2,2010and#79ofFebruary4,2011andcertifiedcopyoftheorder#47ofMarch1,2007and#424ofOctober15,2010.Alongwithotherissues,theresolution#1ofJuly2,2010regulatescitizens’participationintheactivitiesofthelocalcouncil.Order#47ofMarch1,2007oftheheadofthelocalcouncilspecifiesproceduresfor citizens’ reception by high officials and members of the localcouncil.Theorderalsoprovidesthatsecretaryoftheadministrationensurescitizens’receptionwithmembersofthelocalcouncil.AsforotherdocumentsreceivedfromKutaisilocalcouncil,theyhavebeenexaminedintheChapterofKutaisiCityHall.In view of the above, it is evident that similarly to Kutaisi City Hall, Kutaisi Local Council has specifically determined standards for media relations and rules for citizens’ reception.

Batumi City HallAdministrationofBatumiCityHall reported thatmediaandpublicrelationswithintheagencyareregulatedbytheRegulationofadmin-istrationofBatumiCityHallapprovedbythedecree#43(August2,2011)ofBatumilocalcouncil.AccordingtoArticle7oftheRegulation,alongwithotherissues,Me-diaandPRdivisionofBatumiCityHall:1. OrganizesmeetingsofCityHallrepresentativewithmassmedia,

arrangespressconferences,preparespress-releasesandnewslet-

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ters fordissemination inmassmedia,andcoordinates relation-shipswithvariousagenciesandpresscenters;

2. OrganizesmeetingsofmassmediarepresentativeswithCityHallemployees,negotiatestimeandplaceofmeeting,organizespubli-cationofmaterialstransferredbytheCityHalltomassmediaforpublication;

3. Coordinatesfulfillmentofstipulationsenvisagedbyprocurementagreementsmade amongmassmedia and Batumi CityHall ac-cordingtotheLawofGeorgiaon“StateProcurement;”

In response to our letter, Batumi City Hall submitted Irina Sher-vashidze’s contact information, press-speaker, head ofMassMediaandPRDivision. Asforpublicrelations,wewereinformedthataccordingtoArticle11oftheRegulationsofBatumiCityHall,RecordsManagementDivisionwiththesystemofpassesensuresmeetingsofcitizenswithcertainofficialsoftheCityHall.Inaddition,theCityHallalsosubmittedcon-tactinfoofAmiranGogiava,assistantofaMayor,responsiblepersononcitizens’admission.Article12of theOrder#363ofOctober20,2011on“Generalarrangementsforoperationof“onewindow”prin-cipleinBatumi”providesthatassistantoftheMayorensurescitizens’receptionwiththeMayorwhilsttheadviserofthedeputyMayoror-ganizescitizens’meetingswithdeputyMayor.In view of the above, the agency does not possess a special docu-ment for media relations.

Poti City Hall PotiCityHalldoesnotpossessaseparatedocumentstipulatingstan-dardsofrelationshipswithmedia.TheagencyreportedthatpublicinformationisdisclosedaccordingtotherulesestablishedbytheGeneralAdministrativeCodeofGeorgia.InPotiCityHall,theissueofcitizens’admissionintheadministrativebuilding,includingjournalists,isregulatedbytheResolution#15/55on“ApprovaloftheRegulationofAdministrativeServiceinPotiCityHall”adoptedbyPotilocalcouncilonDecember29,2010.Article10oftheResolutioncontainsstipulationsonmediarelations,yetitmiss-esthepartofrelationswithcitizens.Wewerealso informedthatTamarJanashia,headofPRdivisionoftheAdministrativeServiceunderPotiCityHall is inchargeofrela-tionswithmediaandcitizens.

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Information submitted by Poti City Hall illustrates that the Reso-lution regulates only some issues of media relations and does not determine relations with citizens.

The Office of Batumi Local Council AccordingtotheletterofBatumiLocalCouncil,mediarelationsandcitizens’movementareregulatedbytheOrganicLawofGeorgiaon“Localself-governance”,RegulationofBatumiLocalCouncilandtheRegulationoftheOfficeofBatumiLocalCouncil.GurandaAbuladze,headofMassMediaandPRdivisionoftheLocalCouncilisinchargeofmediarelations.MembersoftheLocalCouncil,assistantoftheheadofthelocalcoun-cilfromadministration,BakurBokhvadzefromthelawdepartment,Tea Sarjveladze fromofficial correspondence, citizens’ applicationsandHRdivisionareinchargeofrelationswithcitizens.Paragraph6,Article4oftheRegulationofthelocalcouncilspecifiestheplaceforcitizensandjournalistswillingtoattendthesession.Cit-izens’andmediarepresentatives’righttoattendsessionisincorpo-ratedinParagraph3,Article55.AccordingtoParagraph4,theofficeofthelocalcouncilprovidestheiraccreditation.Batumi Local Council does not apply the special document regu-lating relations with media and citizens. Submitted document does not either determine procedure of movement in the admin-istrative building. It specifies that citizens are entitled to attend sessions.

Poti Local Council In Poti Local Council media and public relations are regulated bytheGeneralAdministrativeCodeofGeorgia,RegulationofPotilocalcouncilandtheRegulationoftheofficeofthelocalcouncil.Thedocu-ment,however,regulatespublic involvement intheactivitiesofthelocalcouncilgenerally.ShorenaChikoria,assistantoftheheadofPotilocalcouncilonPRre-lationissuesregulatesmediaandpublicrelationissues.Poti local council failed to submitted requested documents, yet the materials acquired with GYLA efforts illustrate that media relation standards are not determined in the public agency, while citizens’ movement and relation issues are general.

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Administration of the State Envoy (Akhmeta, Gurjani, Dedoplist-karo, Telavi, Lagodekhi, Sagarejo, Signagi and Kvareli munici-palities)Administrationofthestateenvoyhasnotaspecialdocumentspeci-fyingmediarelationstandards.Accordingtoclausesf)andg),para-graph 1, Article 11 of the “Regulations on State Envoy” approvedbythePresidentialdecree#406of June27,2007relationsofStateEnvoy’sadministrationwithmassmedia,includinginterviewnego-tiationandrecordingofthestateofficial,arethecompetenceoftheadministrativeservice,inparticularKhatunaGulisashvili,actingchiefspecialistoftheserviceisinchargeofthefield.We were informed that there is no restriction for admission andmovementofajournalistoranyotherindividualintheadministra-tivebuildingduringworkinghoursenvisagedbytheGeorgianlegisla-tion.According to clause c) Paragraph 1, Article 11 of the “RegulationsonStateEnvoy”,AdministrationServicecarriesoutpublicrelations,worksoncitizens’recommendations,applications,complaints.NatiaKatsiashvili, Marina Gaganashvili, Tamta Bitskinashvili and TeonaChavelashviliarecontactpersons.Information submitted by the administration of the state envoy, illustrates that the agency has neither determined standards for media relations nor specific rules for citizens’ movement in the administrative building.

Office of local council of Telavi municipality TheletterreceivedfromthemunicipalityprovidesthataccordingtotheOrganicLawofGeorgiaon“LocalSelf-Governance”,self-govern-ingagencyisnotauthorizedtoestablishmediarelationstandardsbyanydocumentortoregulatecitizens’movementthere.Anyindivid-ualandjournalistcanmovewithoutrestrictionintheadministrativebuildingandcanmeetwithanypublicservant.Administrativeserviceofexecutivebranchoflocalmunicipalityisinchargeofmedia relations,whilepublic servicebureau coordinatespublicrelationsintheagency(LelaBaghatashvili,isthecontactper-son).In view of the above it is evident that local council of Telavi mu-nicipality has no special regulation on media and public rela-tions.

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Executive branch of Telavi Municipality (Gamgeoba)In its letterGamgeoba provided that there is no special documentspecifyingmediarelations’standardsintheagency.Italsoreportedthat the agency has not determined rules in terms of journalists’movement,agreementontheintervieworrecordingoftheofficials.Movementofcitizensintheadministrativebuildingisunrestricted. Tekle Ianvarashvili, a leading specialist from recordsmanagement,HR,analysisandinformationdivisionisinchargeofmediarelationsin Gamgeoba. As for public relations, Lela Baghatrishvili and LelaBekaurifrompublicservicedivisionoftheAdministrativeServiceofGamgeobaandMananaGiunadzeandNinoKhushitashvilifrompub-licservicedivisioninlocalcouncil,areresponsiblepersons.Submitted materials illustrate that in Gamgeoba of Telavi mu-nicipality public and media relation standards are regulated in an oral form.

LEPL Social Service Agency Akhmeta Branch of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Inresponsetoourapplication,theagencyreportedthatinformationcannotbedisclosedforthelackofrelevantlegislativeactinAkhme-taregionaldepartment.Withtherequestofinformationthebranchappliedtolegaldepartmentoftheagency,sinceaccordingtoimple-mentedstructuralamendments,legaldepartmentoftheagencywasresponsibleondiscloseoftherelevantpublicinformation.

The Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Intheagencyrelationswithcitizensareimplementedthroughpub-licreception.Itoperatesinworkingdaysthroughoutthefullwork-ing hours. In view of their needs, public reception directs citizenstodifferentstructuresor/andfunctionaldepartments.Therearenorestrictionsinthesysteminviewoftheiradmissionandconsulting.Agency’s relationswith interested individuals are regulatedby theGeneralAdministrativeCodeofGeorgia.Thetermsfordisclosureofpublicinformationapplytomediarepresentativesandanyotherin-dividuals.Thesystemdoesnothaveanyseparateactdeterminingdif-ferentconditionsformediarelations.Information submitted by the Social Service Agency of the Minis-try of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia illustrates that

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the agency has neither determined media relations’ standards nor specified rules for citizens’ movement in the administrative building.

Rustavi Materials submittedbyRustaviLocalCouncilandRustaviCityHallillustrate that thereareno special rulesor restrictionson journal-ists and citizensmovement in the administrative building of localself-governing bodies. Therefore Press Service of Rustavi City HallchairedbyNinutsaKordzaia,headoftheService,isinchargeofme-diarelations.Shecoordinatescommunicationofhighofficialsoflocalself-governingbodieswithmediarepresentatives,broadcastingofin-formation,interviewrecordingandetc.Asforrelationswithcitizens,public reception is operating in Rustavi local self-governing body(NinoKharalashvili,headofthedivision)with“onewindow”princi-ple,yettheformoftheservicedoesnothinderthecitizensinmeetingwithhighofficialsorordinarycitizensonthetopicalforthemissues.

Kareli Municipality Theagencydoesnotpossessaspecialdocumentregulatingcitizens’andjournalists’movementinthemunicipality.Accordingtotheruleestablishedbythelegislation,journalistsareentitledtoentertheor-ganizationandrecordtherespondentandreceivenecessaryinforma-tionwiththehelpofthepressservice.Karelimunicipalityundertakesmediarelationsthroughitsadministrativeservice.

Gori Municipality Theagencydoesnotpossessaseparatedocumentregulatingmassmediarelationsstandards.Inviewoftheneeds,ajournalistcommu-nicateswithspeciallyallocatedemployeeoflocalcouncilorexecutivebodyoflocalmunicipalityandwiththeirassistancecontactswithre-spondents.GiorgiGviniashvili,achiefspecialistonpublicandmediarelationissuesisinchargeofmediarelationsinthelocalcouncil.Asfor executivebodyof localmunicipality,NatiaKhachiuri, aheadofInformationProtocolandForeignRelationsdivisionisacompetentpersoninthisfield.

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Kaspi municipalityWewere informedthatDaliKorkomashvili,achiefspecialistof theAdministrativeServiceisinchargeofpublicrelationsincompliancewiththefunctionsprovidedforinthe“jobdescription”oftheAdmin-istrativeService.

Ozurgeti With the request of identical information we applied to OzurgetibranchofMIA.InresponsetotheapplicationheadoftheMIAreport-edthatadmissionofemployeesontheplacesprotectedbyMIAareregulatedby theOrder ofMIA. (See theparagraphof the researchMinistryofInteriorofGeorgia)

3. SUMMARY Revealed problems Analysis of received information from administrative agencies re-vealedthelowstandardofmediarelationsinthecountry.InGeorgiathereareonlysomestateagencieswithspeciallyelaborat-eddocumentformediarelations.Itshouldbestressed,however,thatthedocumentsdoesnotencompassallnecessarytopics.Forexample,December30, 2011Order#191of theMinister of Sport andYouthAffairsofGeorgiaon“AdmissionofcitizensintheMinistryofSportandYouthAffairsandontherelationswithmediarepresentatives”andJune28,2010Order#23“OnapprovalofthesecurityregimeoftheMinistryofSportandYouthAffairsofGeorgia”regulaterelationswithmedia.Thedocuments,however,doesnotspecifyconditionforadmissionofjournalistsontheterritoryoftheMinistry.Theissueisregulatedbypublicadmissionstandards.Though theMinistry of ForeignAffairs prescribes in detailsmediaandpublicrelationsissues,theagencyisstillconsideredasoneoftheclosedstatesectorsbyjournalists.TheMinistry of Agriculture is among rare exceptions. Informationsubmittedbytheagencyillustratesthatithasworkedoutstandardsformediaandpublicrelations,thoughthedocumentisgeneral.AccordingtotheinformationsubmittedbyTbilisilocalcouncil,ithasdeterminedstandardsforrelationswithmediaandcitizens,andhasstipulatedrulesforpublicadmissionintheadministrativebuilding.Yetitshouldbeemphasizedthatmediarelationstandardsaregen-

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eralanddonotspecifywhatisimpliedundercooperationwithrepre-sentativesfrommassmediaandcivilsocietyorganizations.KutaisiCityhallhasspecifiedstandardsformediarelations,thoughtheagencydoesnot separateadmissionrules forordinarycitizensandmediarepresentatives.ThedocumentworkedoutbyKutaisi localcouncilspecifiesadmis-sionrulesforcitizensandmediarepresentativesintheadministra-tivebuilding.Itshouldalsobestressedthatadocumentelaboratedbythelocalcouncilrequiressubstantialchange.Inmajoritycasesmediarelationissuesarenotregulatedbyspecialdocuments.Furthermore,wemeetnoindicationsinanyotherdocu-mentonthemannertonegotiateinterviewwithadministrationrep-resentativeandontheperiodofadvanceinformingontheplannedevent.ByOctober20,2012followingstateagenciespossessedsuchregulations:TheMinistryofCultureandMonumentProtectionofGeorgiaTheMinistryofJusticeofGeorgiaTheChiefProsecutor’sOfficeofGeorgiaTheMinistryofSportandYouthofGeorgiaTheMinistryofEnergyandNaturalResourcesofGeorgiaTheMinistryofEconomyandSustainableDevelopmentofGeorgiaTheMinistryofEnvironmentProtectionofGeorgiaTheMinistryofInteriorofGeorgiaTheMinistryofRegionalDevelopmentandInfrastructureofGeorgiaTheMinistryofPenitentiary,ProbationandLegalAidofGeorgiaTheMinistryofLabor,HealthCareandSocialProtection TheMinistryofFinanceofGeorgiaApparatusoftheStateMinisterofGeorgiaforDiasporaIssuesApparatusof the StateMinisterofGeorgia for Integration inEuro-peanandEuroatlanticOrganizationsTheMinistryofInternallyDisplacedPersonsfromOccupiedTerrito-ries,SettlementandRefugeesofGeorgiaApparatusoftheStateMinisterofGeorgiaforReintegrationTheMinistryofAgricultureofGeorgiaTheMinistryofForeignAffiarsofGeorgiaTheMinistryofDefenseofGeorgia

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ChancellaryoftheGovernmentofGeorgiaTheStateAuditServiceTbilisiCityHallTbilisiSakrebulo SupremeCourtofGeorgiaKutaisiAppellateCourtTbilisiAppellateCourtTbilisiCityCourtKutaisiCityHallSelf-governanceCity–KutaisiSakrebuloBatumiCityHallPotiCityHallBatumiSakrebuloApparatusPotiSakrebuloApparatusofTelaviMunicipalitySakrebuloTelaviMunicipalityGamgeobaAkhmetaRegionalDepartmentoftheLEPLSocialServiceAgencyoftheMinistryofLabor,HealthcareandSocialProtectionofGeorgiaLegalEntityofPublicLawSocialServiceAgencyof theMinistryofLabor,HealthcareandSocialProtectionofGeorgia RustaviKareliMunicipalityGoriMunicipalityKaspiMunicipalityOzurgetiListed state agencies regulate media relations only with generalnormsandmainlyitisunclearwhatwillbeconsideredbyPRServicesasunduefulfillmentofactivities.Analysis of received information illustrates that notwithstandingtheirgeneralnature,relationswithmediaandadministrativeagen-ciesaremoreregulatedformally,whilstinpracticesituationiscom-plicated.Theproblemmightbecausedbythestate’spoliticalposi-tion.Itshouldbeconsideredthatgovernment’sattitudetomediaisofade-cisiveimportanceforpromotionoffreedomofexpression.Frequent-ly,messagesofpoliticianshavemajoreffectonpublicservants’con-

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duct.Inviewofthis,GYLA’sMediaLegaldefenseCentermadeofficialstatementononeofthePresident’sspeeches.Specifically,onMay10,2012PresidentMikheilSaakashviliassessedactivitiesofsomemediarepresentativesinanegativecontextinIliaChavchavadzemuseumatthepresentationof theComputerEducationDisseminationSociety.Ashenoted,“Alia”andsimilarnewspapersand“someNazielements”wouldhave“engulfedandtornoff”them(IliaChavchavadzeandIa-kobGogebashvili).AsSaakashvilistatedtheypreach“ignorance”(ci-tationfromIliaChavchavadze).“Theybelongtomarginalizedgroupandwillneverreturnandrejointheprimarypartofthesociety”–thePresidentadded.Onlypublicisauthorizedtoevaluatetheproductpreparedbymediarepresentatives,saveforthecaseswhenmediaactivitiescomeincon-flictwithGeorgia’slegislation.We consider impermissible instructing journalists by the supremestate official on the type andmannerof submitting information topublic,aswellasanyattempttoformmediarepresentatives intoamarginalizedgroup.7

Weshouldhighlightthatoneofthemainobstacleofthejournalistsisrelationswithjudiciaryandattendanceatthegovernmentsessions.Generally,thesessionsareclosedandonlyinexceptionalcases,uponthedecisionofthegovernment,thesessionmaybeannouncedpublic.ItshouldbenotedthatafterOctober1,2012ParliamentaryElectionsstatepolice towardsmedia representatives, changesgradually.TheOctober16,2012statementofGiorgiTugushi,actingMinisterofCor-rectionsandLegalAssistanceofGeorgiashouldbeconsideredasastepforward.8Itgranted51persons(8representativesfrommediaamongthem)authority toenterprisonestablishmentsunderpeni-tentiarydepartmentwithoutspecialpermit.9

Moreover,bythetimeofpreparingthepreviousreport,discussionswereunderwayforalterationoftheruleofaudio-videorecordingatthecourtsessions.UpontheinitiativeoftheMinistryofJustice,photoandvideorecordingmayberestoredinthecourthalls.Accordingtothedraft,thecourtisobligedtoensureaudio-videorecordingofthecourt process. Amendments should be introduced to the “Organic

7http://www.gyla.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1293%3A2012-05-11-17-16-35&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=177&lang=ka8http://www.media.ge/stories/akamdesadiqavitpatimr9http://www.ick.ge/ka/rubrics/main-news/62-bnews/12735-------51--.html

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Lawof Georgia on CommonCourts”. Alexander Baramidze, deputyMinister of the Justice reports that public broadcasterwould haveunrestrictedrighttophoto-videorecording.Itisauthorizedtocarryoutunlimitedphoto,videoandaudiorecordingandbroadcastingofthecourtprocessandtotransfertherecordingstoothermediaupontheirrequest.Withtheconsentofthecourtothermassmediaarealsoauthorizedtoimplementphoto,videoandaudiorecordingupontheirjustifiedrequest.Theright,however,mayberestrictedbythemotivatedjudg-mentofthecourt,thedraftprovides.10In view of Georgia’s reality,we consider that establishment of thecommonstandardsofrelationshipwithmediawouldbethebestwayoutforeliminationofthegap.

Anticipated obstacles in the process of working on changesTheprocessofworkingonchangesmightfacemajorproblemssuchas identificationof the journalists’ status.Alongwithdevelopmentoftheinternet,theinteresttowardsonlinepublicationsandblogers’activitieshas increasedgradually. In future,greatnumberofmediarepresentatives may create problems to administrative agencies.Thereisariskthatduetolimitedspaceofadministrativeagencies,notallinterestedindividualswillhaveopportunitytoattendpublicsessions. Internetresourcemaybeconsideredasthewayoutfromthe problem. For instance the sessionsmay be conducted in “livestream.”Inviewof theanalyzed information it isevident thatamendmentsneed tobe introduced tonumberof legislativeactswithaview toestablishmediarelations’standards.Inaddition,itisdecisivetoworkoutaunifieddocumentstipulatingindetailsrelationsofadministra-tiveagencieswithmediaandcitizens.Yetweemphasizethatmedia,itself,shouldmovetohigherstandardofactivity.Webelievethatacknowledgingofethicstandards–becom-ingapartytothecharterofjournalists’ethicisconsideredtobeoneofthestepsforwardtoraisingtrust.

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association is ready to participate in law formation process with a view to develop media stan-dards.

10http://www.liberali.ge/ge/liberali/news/113151/