“Article 42 of the Constitution” Suggests Dimitri Shahskin to Take Measures to Assist Sick Prisoners

Non-governmental organization “Article 42 of the Constitution” suggests Dimitri Shashkin, Minister of Penitentiary, Probation and Legal Aid, to protect the rights of the prisoners who have serious diseases as it is demanded in the Georgian law and international norms.

Manana Kobakhidze from the NGO stated at the press-conference today that one more prisoner died because of carelessness of the Penitentiary Department. More precisely, Jemal Verulidze died because of tuberculosis in National Center for Lung Diseases on June 14.

Manana Kobakhidze said the prisoner died two weeks after he was placed in medical center. Despite extremely poor health, he was not treated in prison and his death resulted from the carelessness of the Penitentiary Department.

Kobakhidze added that a prisoner with such a serious disease shall be released from imprisonment according to the resolution of the Minister of Healthcare. However, the Penitentiary Department did not petition to the court with similar request.

“While Verulidze was in prison, he was not treated. The state breached his right to life so we will send appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Verulidze was put in prison in 2006 and there he got ill with tuberculosis. The administration of the penitentiary department and Dimitri Shahkin are obliged to request the release of a prisoner who has serious illness. They did not do it and the prisoner died. He also had psychic problems; before imprisonment he received a trauma on the skull. The illness of Verulidze could become a basis for his release according to the resolution of the minister of healthcare,” said Manana Kobakhidze. She added that general situation in detention settings is too grave. Although new ministry was established and new prisons were opened, the situation in the system is still very poor.

According to the information on the official website of the penitentiary department one seriously ill prisoner was released in 2009 and two were released in 2008. It is too minimal among 19 000 prisoners.

“In fact, ill prisoners are not released in accordance to the resolution of the minister of healthcare. However, punishment is often postponed in different situations; though it is not enough either. The penitentiary department does not request the court to postpone the penalty or to release prisoners,” said representatives of the NGO at the press-conference.

Source: Interpressnews