18:00, 16 March 2012

Human rights organization stops its office in Georgia for lack of funds

The Kakheti regional branch of the NGO "Human Rights Centre", located in Gurjaani, Georgia, was closed because of termination of funding, said its director Ucha Nanuashvili.

"Today in Kakheti, only one organization, engaged in defence of human rights and providing free legal consultations is working: the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA). However, the GYLA's office is in Telavi, while Gurjaani now has no nationwide human rights organization," Mr Nanuashvili told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Currently, the "Human Rights Centre" operates in three other regions – in Gori, Rustavi and Zugdidi. However, it was the work of the branch in Gurjaani, which was regarded as the most productive, said the source.

"We not only rendered consultations, but also monitored the situation with human rights in Kakheti, and observed elections," said Nanuashvili and associated the end of funding with the fact that "donors are pressed by the authorities." However, he gave no details of the pressure.

Author: Beslan Kmuzov

Source: CK correspondent