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Human Rights House Requests Early Release of the Convicted

June 26, 2013
 
Tamta Tvalavadze

Human Rights House Tbilisi addressed Joint Commission of the Ministry of Penitentiary and Ministry of Healthcare for early release of convicted Zaza Azariashvili. At the press-conference on June 25 at HRHT, Board Chairman Aleko Tskitishvili, lawyer Nestan Londaridze, former political prisoner Vakhtang Maisaia and sister of the convicted person presented journalists with Zaza Azariashvili’s case.

In the frame of the project “Provision of free legal aid to Georgian indigent population” implemented by Human Rights House Tbilisi lawyer of Human Rights Center Nestan Londaridze protects Zaza Azariashvili’s rights.

The convicted person has serious health problems for what his life is in danger. Besides that Azariashvili was subjected to psychological and physical intimidation. During his imprisonment, he was tortured for not having implemented the illegal order – to assassinate political prisoner Vakhtang Maisaia. 

Nestan Londaridze clarified that in accordance to the Article 37 Part “f” of the Code on Imprisonment, a prisoner shall be released from establishment due to his/her health problems or old age. Second part of the same article lists illness that might become ground for early release; Azariashvili is sick with some of the illnesses from the list. “Zaza Azariashvili has petitioned to relevant institutions several times but as a result of negligence and obscurity, he was not provided with help,” the lawyer said.

Vakhtang Maisaia recalled torture fact of Zaza Azariashvili in prison: “In 2010 after I stopped hunger-strike, three persons were placed in my cell. Azariashvili was one of them. He warned me about terrible plotting against him. Later, I found out that prison executors heard Azariashvili’s speech from the installed listening and video apparatus in my cell; he was ruthlessly punished for having warned me and his health was worsened even more.”

Aleko Tskitishvili hopes the Commission will pay attention to the prisoner’s petition and will advocate him to early leave the prison due to his serious health problems.

Zaza Azariashvili was convicted for thievery of three sacks of cement on June 7, 2010 (Article 169 “a” and “b” of the Criminal Code of Georgia) and was sentenced to ten year imprisonment. As a result of the Amnesty Law his term was reduced at four years.

At the press-conference Azariashvili’s sister spoke about grave health conditions of the prisoner and social problems of their family. 

With financial support of the Eurasian Partnership Foundation, project “Provision of free legal aid to Georgian indigent population” is implemented by HRHT member organizations Article 42 of the Constitution and Human Rights Center. 

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