Human Rights Week 2019, Legal Aid Service Ombudsman
In the last 10 years, with the help of the EU, free legal aid to vulnerable groups has been made available, facilitating equal and fair access to the justice system.
When Salome tried to formalise the ownership of her new place of residence as an IDP, she was rejected as her previous residence was registered solely in her father’s name. When none of the attorneys took her case, Salome addressed the Legal Aid Service where she was assigned a lawyer and went to court. As a result, Salome will soon live in her own home.
Salome
Svetlana
Svetlana Bakhchieva, along with her sister, has been receiving subsistence allowance since 2007. After the verification, her status stayed the same but she didn’t receive any money for three months. Moreover, her social status was fully abolished after her sister’s death. Svetlana used Legal Aid Service to get a 3-month compensation and with the help of a professional attorney she won the case.
Natela Girmushiani and her sister, Irma, were 1/8 shareholders of a house located in the village of Chitakhevi. Because of an improper validation of the size of the house, their part was illegally deprived by their neighbor, who sold the house to her grandchildren. After the death of one of the owners, they used Legal Aid Service to request their share back. The court ruled in their favour. Also, with the assistance of a LAS lawyer, the sisters got also the compensation of the 3 years’ period.
Natela
Iatamze
Iatamze Labartkava is a socially vulnerable person whose social assistance was suddenly stopped because of the misinterpreted rating points. The Legal Aid Service proved at the court that the declaration was filled with incorrect data. As a result, Iatamze received 1000 rating points instead of 59690 and recovered her social assistance. With the help of the same service, she requested to legitimise her parents' home. Her suit was fully satisfied and she is now waiting for the final actions.
Nanuli Mikeladze is a refugee from Abkhazia who is registered in the unified database of socially vulnerable families. When requested to be provided accommodation, she was refused – the compensation had already been issued on behalf of her nephew. Nanuli addressed to the Legal Aid Service and, due to the fact that her name was not mentioned in any document, she won the case. According to the verdict, she is now entitled to have a long-term accommodation.