Georgia

After transitioning Georgia to a parliamentary system of governance, the ruling Georgian Dream party rushed through constitutional reforms without securing broader political consensus. Lack of accountability persists for abuses committed by law enforcement officials, as Georgia does not have an independent effective mechanism for investigating such crimes. Georgia’s state security service’s unfettered access to telecom operators’ networks compromises the right to privacy. Other areas of concern include punitive criminal drug policies for drug users, occupational safety and labor rights, media freedoms, particularly media pluralism, and violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.