Price of Prisoner’s Vote – Elections, a New Reason to Torture Prisoners

Manon Bokuchava, Kvemo Kartli

After video-footage of prisoners’ torture was depicted in the media, existing illegality in the penitentiary system became more evident. In accordance with the new Election Code, those convicted of minor crimes, though subject to constant intimidation, have the right to vote. Of course, the government is not going to waste their votes.

Humanrights.ge tried to find out who initiated the idea of involving prisoners in the elections. As we were informed, in 2011 the Venice Commission sent a recommendation along these lines to the Government of Georgia. Commission Secretary Thomas Markert assured opposition parties that it was important to grant this right to prisoners. Although the Venice Commission wrote alongside the recommendations that election procedures must be open and transparent in penitentiary institutions, the recommendation does not in fact correspond to the real situation in Georgia.

Of course, the government was happy to accept this particular recommendation of the Venice Commission. Consequently, prisoners who were tortured on daily basis, will take part in the October 1 elections.

The polling stations will function inside the prison administration building – about 10 meters away from the place where prisoners were physically abused. Using this word, abuse, in the past tense may be biased on our part because despite personnel changes in prisons, some information was spread indicating that prisoners’ abuse still continues.

“Two polling stations will be opened in Rustavi for prisoners. One will be located near Prison # 6 and the second in the penitentiary institution # 16,” members of the Rustavi District Election Commission clarified.

So one polling station will function in the prison from where we hear prisoners screaming every day.

Prisoners shout the name of the abused inmate from the prison in front of which relatives are gathered. Human rights defenders have already made statements about physical abuse of Goderdzi Kiknadze, inmate of Prison #6. His mother has been on hunger strike for one week with the request not to kill her son.

We got in touch with CEC to find out whether observers will be allowed into prison polling stations. CEC press-center and hot-line operator clarified that observers will have the chance to observe the ballotting process in every precinct.

Prisoners speak about a new trend in prisons. They allege that the prison staff, who used to order prisoners to insult notorious criminals in the mafia, now demand that they insult Bidzina Ivanishvili . An inmate told our colleagues in Gldani Prison # 8 that unless they circle number 5 (UNM’s election number), they will be physically abused.

Reportedly, about 3000-3500 prisoners have the right to vote in Georgia.