Detentions Continue into Kortava’s Case

Shorena Kakabadze, Imereti

On August 5, Kutaisi City Court sentenced three employees of Geguti Prison # 14 Giga Kokhodze, Aleko Babunashvili and Tamaz Nasaria to two-month pretrial imprisonment; they were detained with regard to the death fact of the prisoner Levan Kortava in Geguti prison. Investigation blames Nasaraia in fabrication of evidence and Kokhodze and Babunashvili in professional negligence.

Relatives of the detained employees claim the court decision was unfair. Giga Kokhodze’s lawyer Temur Meskhi clarified that court decision was illegal and it will be appealed. 

Family members of the accused people urge Chief Prosecutor of Georgia to impartially investigate the case. They claim Kokhodze, Babunashvili and Nasaria, as well as other accused people, are victims. In fact, the investigation lobbies real offenders – senior officials.

Five people were charged for the crime. On August 4, Kutaisi City Court sentenced security inspector of the Geguti prison # 14 Ilia Shanshashvili and former inmate of the same prison Giorgi Shemazashvili to pretrial imprisonment.

Prosecutor Aleksandre Chabukiani at the western Georgia’s Regional Prosecutor’s Office doubts few more inmates and employees of the Geguti Prison # 14, including senior officials, might be interrogated in this case.