2013-02-28 In January 2013, Supreme Council of Adjara held certification of public servants based on the Law of Georgia on Public Service and the Rule for Certification of Public Servants approved under the February 5, 2009 Order N47 of the President of Georgia on Approval of the Rule of Certification of Public Servants. 33 public servants were interviewed for certification. As a result of staff changes following October 1, 2012, in archives department, a sub-agency of Adjara A/R Government, the following seven employees were dismissed: head and two deputy heads of the archives department, based on their own letters of resignation and under the order of Adjara Government’s Chairperson, while one employee was dismissed for his failure to perform his official duties in an appropriate manner, for arbitrary absence from work. Further, head of the archives of Shuakhetvi territorial agency (archives department) and one assistant (division for working with the territorial agency, and organizing and processing) submitted letters of resignation. Adjara Government repealed an order of the head of the archives department on the appointment of the head of Shuakhevi archives. Subsequently, head of Shuakhevi archives division was dismissed based on annulment of the January 18 order on appointment. From October 1 to February 28 nine new employees were hired at the archives department, including head of the department and three deputies. Notably, former head of the department, dismissed on the basis of his own letter of resignation on December 4, was appointed as deputy head of the department on the basis of his own application. As archives department is a sub-agency of Adjara Government, heads and deputy heads of the department are appointed and dismissed by Adjara Government. One of the deputies, who was dismissed on the basis of his own resignation letter, submitted the letter addressed to head of the archives division as opposed to the Chairperson of Adjara Government; nevertheless, he has been dismissed under the order of the Adjara Government. Hereby, we must also highlight the trend of hiring new employees. Positions of some of the newly hired employees correspond to the positions they have indicated in their job applications. For instance, one of the applicants is requesting appointment as the head of the division for working with the territorial agency, organizing and processing. Another applicant is requesting appointment as a lead specialist of Shuakhevi archives division. There was one more applicant, acting head of the archives of a territorial agency, requesting appointment as the head of the archives. One of the deputy heads of the department Nargiz Basiladze was dismissed for her failure to perform official duties in appropriate manner – for arbitrary absence from work. Corresponding order of dismissals notes that she was absent from work from January 16 through January 21, without officially providing the reason of absence. For being late to work on a systematic basis, head of the department issued her a warning as disciplinary liability (according to the order of dismissal, corresponding letter of head of the department has been transmitted to the office of Adjara Government on January 23), while from January 17, i.e. second day of her arbitrary absence from work, Nargiz Basiladze has been dismissed from her position as deputy head of the department. In an interview with ISFED’s regional coordinator, Nargiz Basiladze stated that current head of the archives department, Guram Saladze has asked her on a number of occasions to submit a letter of resignation. He even offered her a new job. Head of the office of Adjara Government, Iakli Cheishvili allegedly also demanded that Nargiz Basiladze submit a letter of resignation. She also spoke with Vice-Speaker Murman Dumbadze on the phone about the issue. Despite the pressure, Nargiz Basiladze never submitted a letter of resignation, which is allegedly why she was fired groundlessly. According to Nargiz Basiladze, she called in sick immediately and informed department head, one of his deputies and an employee of the department that she was taking a sick leave. Nevertheless, Saladze never intentionally drew up paperwork about her absence. According to Basiladze, lawyer had her secure recording of incoming and outgoing calls from the office, confirming that phone calls were indeed received from Nargiz Basiladze’s phone number. Nargiz Basiladze took a sick leave from January 18, and has a valid medical certificate as a proof of sickness. Nargiz Basiladze believes that her dismissal was politically motivated and she has filed in court.

2013-01-17 According to the head of media relations of the Supreme Council of Adjara, 71 employees were dismissed due to the changes in the administration personnel on January 5, 2013. Neither the opposition, nor the ruling party has confirmed the information. According to the source, 20-25 staff members were released due to expiration of their contract, whereas multiple positions were revoked since the faction discontinued its existence. Link: http://goo.gl/rOR6f