Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Person Who Should Be Operated Still Held in Prison

December 23, 2008

Nona Suvarian, Tbilisi

A Prisoner with heart-disease has not been allowed access to medical treatment.  Since being locked up he suffers from acute pain but according to the penitentiary department, he cannot be taken to jail hospital without the approval of a corresponding medical expert’s report.

Anzror Miminoshvili was initially arrested on December 14 2006 for the illegally purchasing drugs. On August 23 2007 the court satisfied that based on his medical problems that penitentiary department was allowed to release the prisoner so that his health condition could improve. Representatives of the non-governmental organization “Constitution Article 42” state European Court compelled the chairperson of the penitentiary department to make such a decision. However, in accomplishing this, it was necessary to address the European Court in a law suit. His lawyers and family members had to fight long and unnecessary battle. Miminoshvili was released based on court expertise which stated: “a patient needs cardiologic assistance during at this stage of illness… and the he should have an operation as soon as possible.”

Manana Kobakhidze, lawyer for the “Article 42 of the Constitution”: “Unfortunately, however, he was never operated on. In addition, the state refused to fund his operation.  The family could not afford the payment and they now intend to appeal against the Ministry of Healthcare, and based also on how Miminoshvili was repeatedly arrested.”

 Family members learned about the second detention of Miminoshvili accidentally from a taxi-driver. Miminoshvili was arrested for the second time on November 30 2008; this time for illegal purchase of Heroine. He was judged under the Article 260 Paragraph II of the Criminal Code and was sentenced to two-month pre-trial imprisonment. He is serving his term in Prison # 8 in Gldani settlement, Tbilisi.

Iamze Miminoshvili, sister of the detainee: “They did not allow us in to see my brother; we did not even know whether he was alive or dead. We were not allowed to send medicine for use while he was being held in custody.”

It was impossible to provide medical treatment for a prison inmate. On December 2 2008 Article 42 of the Constitution petitioned to the penitentiary department and requested to take the prisoner to the prison’s hospital. “Absence of corresponding treatment might be the basis for the charge envisaged under Article 3 of the Human Rights European Convention,” stated the petition.

The organization has not received a reply from the penitentiary department yet although the time limit for replying the letter had already expired.

The press service department of the penitentiary department stated that the prisoner is currently treated by cardiologist and a doctor-on-duty and he will be taken to jail hospital after the results of medical examination have been completed. 

News