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Family of Diseased Prisoner Waiting for Investigation

March 31, 2014
 
Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

Giga Partenadze died in Geguti prison on March 4, 2014. Family members claim he was tortured to death. Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has already started investigation into the fact. Family members claim the investigation is dragged out and have no access to the expertise conclusion.

Official statement of the Ministry of Corrections, which was spread on the same day, also stated that the diseased prisoner had multiple injuries on the body. “There was controversy between five inmates of six-place cell in Geguti Prison # 14; the incident finished with the death one of the prisoners. According to initial information, the diseased person has multiple injuries in the eye and throat. Exact reason of the death will be estimated by expertise,” the statement reads. Family members have not received the expertise conclusion so far.

Giga Partenadze had been in prison since 2011. He was member of Georgian national team of Greco-Roman wrestling. So, his family believes he was tortured. “My grandson was so much injured, that it could shock everybody. He was very strong. One person could not defeat him. Apparently, they attacked him from behind and killed him,” the grandmother said.

Mzia Mikabadze, mother of the diseased prisoner: “They share false information in the Facebook; as if he had to pay some debt. My son had never gambled and they must not insult dead person. I could not find justice in both old and new governments; they released robbers, drug-abusers, drug-dealers. Nobody could defeat my son.”

“There is trace of torture on my brother’s body; he was ruthlessly tortured; his eye was removed. It could not happen unless prison administration was informed about it,” the brother of the diseased prisoner Koba Partenadze said.

Public Defender of Georgia also requested timely and effective investigation into prisoner Partenadze’s death case. Ombudsman called on the Ministry of Corrections to take all necessary preventive measures in Geguti Prison # 14 to ensure personal security of prisoners and to avoid similar tragedies in future. “During last one year, this is the second incident, resulting in the death of a prisone in Geguti N 14 penitentiary institution, which underlines existing problems of prisoners personal security in this institution,” the Ombudsman’s statement reads. It is noteworthy that Public Defender’s representatives studied the fact on the place.

On March 26, Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia placed statement on the launched probe into Giga Partenadze’s death fact on its official website. The prosecutor’s office started criminal prosecution against three prisoners Shota Shanidze, Levan Moistsrapashvili and Giorgi Sekhniashvili for premeditated damage of body. “The conducted investigation revealed that on March 4, 2014 at approximately 02:20 am, the verbal controversy between the convicted placed in the cell No. 322 of the sixth Regime Building of Facility No. 14 of the Department of Corrections – Shota Shanidze, Levan Moistsrapishvili, Giorgi Sekhniashvili and Giga Partenadze escalated into a physical confrontation. Shota Shanidze, Giorgi Sekhniashvili and Levan Moistsrapishvili pushed Giga Partenadze down on the floor, and at that moment he lost his consciousness and  could not show resistance. Nevertheless, they continuing merciless violence against him, in particular, hitting him in the area of chest, neck and face with their hands and feet, and were beating his head against the concrete floor. This was prevented by the officers of the Department of Corrections and at this point Giga Partenadze was taken to the Medical Unit of Facility No. 14, where, despite the rendered medical assistance, he passed away without regaining consciousness.”

The crime is punishable by imprisonment from ten up to thirteen years in prison.    

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