On March 13, 2015, Poti City Court passed a judgment that the Mayor of Poti Municipality Irakli Kakulia did not comply with a legitimate request of the Public Defender and thus violated the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia. The court ordered Irakli Kakulia to pay a fine in the amount of 800 GEL.

Mayor of Poti Irakli Kakulia failed to provide information to the Public Defender on results of discussion of the recommendations of the Public Defender of Georgia on providing shelter to homeless persons in a legally defined timeframe. Thus, on February 18, 2015, an administrative offence protocol was drawn up at the Public Defender’s Office that was later sent for consideration to Poti City Court.

According to the Organic Law on Public Defender, all state and local self-government authorities, officials or legal persons are obligated to assist the Public Defender of Georgia in every way, immediately submit materials, documents and other information necessary for the Public Defender of Georgia to exercise his/her powers.

In order to eliminate the practice of non-submission of information on results of discussion of recommendations, proposals, the Public Defender of Georgia actively exercises its legal right and in conformity with the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia applies to a court for the purpose of identification of facts of non-compliance with legitimate requests of the Public Defender and use of sanctions against offences envisaged in the law.