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The News in Brief

Tuesday, November 1
Georgian Dream to start discussions about new governmental team

The Georgian Dream will start discussions about the new governmental team in the coming days, Georgian Dream member Eka Beselia told IPN.

According to her, the only thing which is known today is that Giorgi Kvirikashvili will remain on the Prime Minister's post.

"In the coming days we will meet and will talk about everything. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will not be replaced. The rest will be discussed in the team. We will consult in the political board format," Beselia said.
(IPN)



Rule of Law Index 2016: Georgia gets highest score for Order and Security

The World Justice Project (WJP), a Washington-based independent, multidisciplinary organisation working to advance the rule of law around the world, has released its Rule of Law Index 2016.

Georgia took 34th position out of 113 foreign states in the survey, showing high scores in Order and Security component, Open Governance and protecting of Fundamental Rights.

Georgia is a regional leader in the Rule of Law Index with the best score compared to 12 other Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries.

The 2016 Rule of Law Index relied on more than 100,000 household and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced in practical, everyday situations by the general public worldwide.

Performance is measured using 44 indicators across eight primary rule of law factors, each of which is scored and ranked globally and against regional and income peers:
• Constraints on Government Powers,
• Absence of Corruption,
• Open Government,
• Fundamental Rights,
• Order and Security,
• Regulatory Enforcement,
• Civil Justice, and
• Criminal Justice

In this year’s survey Georgia showed highest, 0, 78 point in Order and Security component. In 2015 the score was 0, 83.

The component of Open Governance increased from 0, 61 to 0, 63 compared to the previous year.

Protecting of Fundamental Rights is also increased from 0, 64 to 0,68.

Georgia revealed advancement in Criminal Justice direction and boosted its score from 0,54 to 0,56.

Civil Justice indicator was decreased from 0, 63 point to 0, 61.

Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway and Finland took first three positions in the rating.

Georgia’s neighbors Russia (0,45) and Turkey (0,43) showed lowest scores among the regional countries.
(Agenda.ge)



168 prisoners pardoned in Georgia

The Georgian president pardoned 168 prisoners, 114 have already left jail, while the rest had their sentences reduced, the commission’s head, Zviad Koridze, stated .

Six of those pardoned are women. The decree about pardoning prisoners was issued on Thursday.

“The (pardon) commission and the president referred to the principle that everyone has to be given a chance to start a new life. After discussion the pardon protocol was issued for 168 prisoners,” Zviad Koridze, a professional journalist and media expert, said at the briefing.

There are two commissions in Georgia considering applications for pardon; one under the president and one under the Prison Ministry.
(DF watch)