Giorgi Tugushi: “I Am Ready to Foresee All My Recommendations”

Former Public Defender of Georgia Giorgi Tugushi occupied the position of the Minister of Corrections and Legal Aid of Georgia. President Mikheil Saakashvili nominated him for the position.

Mikheil Saakashvili stated that reorganization started in the entire system but a strong minister shall lead this process.

“I am ready to foresee all those recommendations which I had made for the Ministry,” the new Minister said.

He added it was very significant and unexpected for him when the President offered him to occupy the minister’s position. It is difficult for him to leave the Public Defender’s Office where he worked for three years.

“Ombudsman’s Office has done much but apparently we could just document the problems. Until now I did not have competence to improve something. The most significant reason why I accepted this offer is that I will have chance to make radical changes in the system and to protect the rights of every prisoner. It is important challenge for me and it is huge motivation for me to support establishment of the penitentiary system where number of prisoner’s problems will be minimized,” Tugushi said.

The new minister said ill-treatment of prisoners is not the only problem in custodies. Giorgi Tugushi noted the healthcare and infrastructure are also in horrible conditions.

“I will completely eradicate ill-treatment and I will start resolution of all problems stage-by-stage. My priority will be to make personnel changes in the department and to cooperate with everybody who is active in this field. I want to create the system which will never become a topic of public concern in future. It shall aim at resocialization of the convicted instead degrading their dignity and sending them back to society traumatized. The president promised me to give full freedom in this system; I will need several new colleagues in the Ministry and I am ready to consider all recommendations which I have prepared for this institution. I am ready to execute what I have written,” Tugushi said.

He added that he would have personal cooperation with the president in order to eventually resolve everything.

The new minister underscored the importance of increased funding of the system. “It is important to increase the funding of the system and to attract additional resources. I will take care to intensify the probation service and reduce number of prisoners. I want to promise the parents that their prisoners will be protected. Supposedly, many people got surprised why I accepted the proposal. I was writing about problems so far. Most of my recommendations remained on the paper. Now, I will have chance to resolve everything,” Tugushi said.

Interpresnews