Election Administration of Georgia will consider the complaint of “Young Barristers” against the Center of Electoral System Development, Reforms and Trainings. As it is stated in the letter of July 16, 2015 submitted by Election Administration of Georgia to the organization, administrative procedeeng regarding the claim on the basis of article 179 of the General Administrative Code of Georgia has been started. The Deputy Chairman of the CEC, Giorgi Sharabidze, has signed the letter sent to the Head of “Young Barristers”.
“Young Barristers” sued against the Center of Electoral System Development, Reforms and Trainings, a Legal entity of public law subordinated to the Election Administration of Georgia on July 8, 2015, due to the rejection of the grant proposal, submitted by organization. “Young Barristers” says, that the refusal of funding on behalf of the Center of Electoral System Development, Reforms and Training is unsubstantiated and unjustified. It is difficult to figure out what are the principles, approaches and decision-making frameworks, according to which the Center is satisfying certain proposals.
“Young Barristers” believes, that grant competition should not be discriminatory and giving grants should not depend on the name, forms of activities or civil position of the organization, submitting applications. The Center should also properly discuss applications, submitted by those non-governmental organizations, which have never been connected with either to the government or to the opposition, and which have never lobbed any political activities as well. The Center of Electoral System Development, Reforms and Trainings is a legal entity of public law subordinated to the Election Administration of Georgia funded by State Budget. Accountability and responsibility of such a Center should be based on trust, impartiality and transparency. However, it is unclear, what are the criteria, according to which the Center keeps on giving grants to the organizations founded by the leaders or members of “United National Movement”.
“Young Barristers” announces, that complaint against the Center of Electoral System Development, Reforms and Trainings is not a deliberate act against the Agency and it only intends to establish the standards, when grantor will be free from any kind of political influence and provide real competitive, impartial and fair competition approaches. “Young Barristers” considers, that Grant Policy should be changed in the country and shoul not be discriminatory.
“Young Barristers” considers it reasonable to note, that the Center of Electoral System Development, Reforms and Trainings rejected “Young Barristers” grant proposal by the order adopted on June 16, 2015. The grant proposal of the organization, “My First Vote”, was intending to increase awareness and civic consciousness of the process of voting for 18 years old young people, participating in the parliamentary elections for the first time in 2016. The proposal got 61,25 points out of passing 70. This is the 3rd time the Center refuses to fund grant application submitted by organization. The organization is ready to make all grant proposals public, so that the society could assess the competence of projects.
