Part of Monitoring Group Believes Bacho Akhalaia Should Be Taken From Prison # 7

Part of Prisons’ Public Monitoring Group believes that Bacho Akhalaia shall be taken from Prison #7.

When speaking with Interpresnews Monitor Nino Zuriashvili said Bacho Akhalaia shall not expect death in penitentiary establishment.

“They must either convince him that he is safe there or take him to another establishment,” said Zuriashvili who intends to share her position with the Penitentiary Minister.

On November 14, one more member of prison monitoring group Soso Manjavidze also visited Prison # 7. He also believes that Akhalaia shall be taken from the establishment because other inmates of the same facility do not wish him to be nearby either.

“Inmates of this facility speak about possible provocation. They said if somebody wishes to get rid of Bacho Akhalaia, because he might spread unpleasant information, they will blame thieves with his murder. Prisoners are fully aware of this possibility and demand to take Akhalaia from this facility. Besides that, prisoners have moral discomfort because person, who is partly guilty in their tragedy, is in the same building they are,” said Soso Manjavidze.

Monitoring group member Dimitry Lortkipanidze said Bacho Akhalaia shall be taken to so-called Matrosov prison where members of penitentiary department were placed after they were arrested on September 19; or other inmates of Prison # 7 shall be taken away and former employees of penitentiary department shall be placed in Prison # 7 together with Bacho Akhalaia.

“I cannot understand the statements of the penitentiary ministry when they claim that Akhalaia would be less protected in other facilities. If somebody does not trust administration, regime and head of security service at the Matrosov prison, it should be stated loudly. I think every establishment shall be properly protected,” said Lortkipanidze.

Besides that, the building of Prison # 7 was constructed in 1970s and was designed for 72-hour imprisonment. Placement of inmates for a long term there is equal to ill-treatment and consequently the inmates of this facility have health problems.

“I am not speaking about thieves-in-law whose health conditions are really poor. Besides that, when Akhalaia was placed in the facility the old inmates were taken down from the third floor where no sun-rays reach cells,” said Dimitry Lortkipanidze.

Some more members support the recommendation to remove Akhalaia from Prison # 7.

IPN