Deceased Prisoner’s Body Brought to Zugdidi Prison

Nana Pazhava, presage.tv

On November 8, family members of late prisoner Murman Kalandia, 42, brought the deceased in front of the Zugdidi prison # 4 where he served his term before death; Kalandia died on October 31.

The relatives protested to request official information about the death of the late prisoner. The family requested punishment of the prison director Amiran Janashia and prison doctor.

Medea Kalandia alleged her brother died because of traumas he had received after beating. “There are traces of torture on his body. He has bruises and fractures all over the body. There is a trace of cigarette burns on his back. His hand fingers were broken. My brother was ruthlessly tortured and the prison administration does not want to make clarifications about it. We could not even find his clothes. I brought completely naked body from the Kutaisi expertise bureau. An investigator from the bureau told me there were blood stains on his clothes and they were sent to the expertise. Strangers also told me that my brother spent two days in the punishment cell. We do not have other information.”

Several versions about Murman Kalandia’s death have been spread. According to one of them, the prisoner died in the special vehicle of the penitentiary department when he was transported to Ksani prison. According to the second version, he was killed in Zugdidi prison and then his body was taken to the Kutaisi expertise bureau for medical expertise.

The family of the deceased prisoner petitioned to the Public Defender for help. Representatives of the Public Defender already started investigations in the Zugdidi prison but they did not make comments with the journalists before the end of their investigation.

According to the information of the presage.tv, a criminal case was launched regarding Kalandia’s murder and several employees of the prison were detained.

Murman Kalandia was imprisoned for thievery and sentenced to three-year term. His term was due to expire in April of 2012. Kalandia was buried in Zugdidi on November 8.

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