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Mortality among Prisoners Increased at 50%

May 6, 2011

Sopo Getsadze

Number of dead prisoners in Georgian penitentiary system has increased at 50% from the previous year. The representatives of the Public Defender’s Office state mostly prisoners die because of late medical assistance. Tuberculosis, infections and breathing system problems are top diseases that kill prisoners.

According to the special report of the Public Defender of Georgia, their research demonstrated inefficient and inadequate diagnostic and treatment procedures in several cases. In addition, the Public Defender’s Report highlights several facts of physical assault of prisoners who were then left without attention.

Eka Beselia, chairwoman of the Movement – Solidarity with Illegal Prisoners, spoke about physical abuse of prisoners. “Many prisoners had injuries on the bodies but nobody has been punished for it. Mostly, prisoners die because of: criminal negligence, lack of attention, no assistance from the ministry and other circumstances which demonstrate the absolute negligence of the penitentiary ministry towards death and violence facts in general.”

The Human Rights Center interviewed the head of Prevention and Monitoring Department of the Public Defender’s Office Natia Imnadze about the problem. She said the prisoners cannot timely get medical assistance in custody. Very often, the medical treatment course is late; prisons are overcrowded, the infrastructure of the detention settings is poor, sick prisoners are not isolated that increases the risk of inspection. The humanrights.ge requested comments on the mortality of prisoners from the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid but could not get answers there.

Human rights defenders believe the approach and policy shall be changed to improve the situation in the penitentiary system.

“The minister, as well as other people, who were suspected in the abovementioned crimes, shall be punished. The impunity encourages more crimes. The strict criminal law shall become more liberal and human that will reduce not only the number of prisoners, but it will positively impact the living conditions of prisoners,” said Eka Beselia.

According to Natia Imnadze, the mortality among prisoners has increased at 50% in 2010. More than 140 prisoners died last year. Though, in 2006-2009 the number of dead prisoners per year did not exceed 92.

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