On 4 October 2019, the Public Defender of Georgia found harassment on the ground of different opinion in the workplace against the Ltd Black Sea Group Company and its Deputy Director. Applicants' interests in the Public Defender's Office are represented by the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC).

According to the case file, the Deputy Director used forms of unethical communication with applicants subordinated to him/her, including in the presence of third parties. In particular, he/she used offensive expressions and created a hostile and degrading work environment as a person with power. In addition, despite the applicants' request, the Director of the company did not respond to the above facts.

In view of the above, the Public Defender of Georgia recommended the Deputy Director to refrain from offending people and creating a hostile environment in the workplace while carrying out his/her professional activities in the future. The Public Defender also urged the Director of Black Sea Group to respond effectively to the applicants’ allegations about any form of discrimination, including harassment, to develop and present to the employees a document reflecting the principle of equality and to bring the work environment and ethics of the company in line with the principle of equality.