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After Torture Prisoner Is Lying Immovably and Sometimes Cries Out: “Get out of here! Leave me alone! Do not Beat Me!”

October 24, 2012

Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria

In 2009 Kote Gigashvili from Lanchkhuti was sentenced to imprisonment of 3 years and 8 months for thievery. On September 22, 2012, several months before his imprisonment term expired, prison administration called his family and notified that their son was free.

“My son was arrested three years ago for thievery though he was not guilty. He was assisting neighbor in trimming vine. His daughter, who is married and lives nearby, went to see him in the yard. Meanwhile, the neighbor’s family lost a ring in the house. My son pleaded he had stolen it to save his daughter from accusations. He was sentenced to three year imprisonment,” mother of the former prisoner said.

She added that Kote Gigashvili served his term in Geguti prison. “His imprisonment term was about to expire and I was waiting him to return soon. Suddenly police officers came and said – your son is in hospital and visit him there. My grandchild and relatives went to bring him home.  They were told at hospital – he cannot walk but if you want to take him home, “put him in a bin and take him in this way.”

The relatives had to hire a taxi and take Kote Gigashvili out of the hospital on the hand-barrow.

“Apparently somebody ruthlessly beat him in prison; he felt bad and they took him to hospital in Tbilisi. We knew nothing. When I sent relatives to Tbilisi I was waiting for them at home. I prepared dishes. How could I think that they would bring him in such conditions?!” the mother said.

Kote Gigashvili has been motionless in bed for 40 days already. Supposedly because of trauma in his head he cannot contact people; he cannot speak. Sometimes, he cries out: “Get out of here! Leave me alone! Do not beat me!”

Mother said her son often mentioned certain Chkhetia who is supervisor at Geguti prison. As for expert, the family could not invite expert to examine the former prisoner because of financial problems; so they do not hold relevant conclusion.

“Two days before the elections, Lanchkhuti district administration transferred 500 lari to us. We put him in hospital for 5 days and they infused some medicines. Then they sent us home. Since then nobody has seen my son. He needs tomography on the head but we do not have money and I cannot pay for it,” Zhuzhuna Chkhaidze, the mother, said.

The Gigashvilis live in unbearable conditions. Socially disabled Zhuzhuna Chkhaidze gets pension and social allowance. Until now she was selling newspapers to earn some extra money but now she cannot leave her son alone.

Besides making diagnosis on Gigashvili, he requires immediate medical treatment. Otherwise his life is in danger.

Human Rights Center calls upon the prosecutor’s office to start criminal case on the prisoner’s torture, to impartially investigate the fact and punish perpetrators.

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