Promotion of Open Government through FOI Legal Assistance and Litigation
May 1, 2006 – April 30, 2009

Description: The aim of this project is to promote transparency and accountability of government by encouraging and facilitating public demand for government held information. The project objectives are to support citizens and journalists who seek government held information; to help people get access to justice in FOI cases; to address the courts in cases when information of high public interest is refused; to systematize FOI litigation practices; to use the results of legal assistance in public campaign for better Freedom of information practices; ant to spread out the positive results of the AIP experience in national and global networks. The aims of the project will be fulfill through provision of consultancy to journalists, NGOs and citizens in cases where they seek information and in cases of refusal; filing applications and submissions to the administrative courts; court representation; and permanent media campaign on FOI cases and practices.

Donor of the project: Open Society Institute, Human Rights and Governance Grants Program, Budapest

Rresults:
- increased number of NGOs and journalists who exercise actively their right to access government held information;
- Access to Public Information Litigation in Bulgaria (2005-2008), vol. 4;
- Important court decisions delivered on AIP assisted access to information cases;
- Provision of legal help in cases in which journalists, citizens, and NGOs seek information or a refused access;
- Organization and holding of a national conference Access to Information Litigation in Bulgaria (held on March 27, 2009).
- In 2008, the monthly magazine Legal World awarded Alexander Kashumov, head of AIP legal team, as the “Attorney of the Year” after the nomination of court reporters.
- Thirty-six electronic monthly newsletters.
- participation of AIP experts in regional and international conferences, forums, trainings and seminars on access to information litigation in 25 countries.