Wife of Prisoner Attempted Suicide In Front of the Batumi Prosecutor’s Office

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

On July 17, 2009 17-year-old Natia Jashi poured petrol over herself in front of the Batumi Prosecutor’s Office and soon she was on fire. Fortunately, her attempt to commit suicide failed because the driver of the Prosecutor’s Office managed to put out the fire.

Natia Jashi decided to kill herself several days ago and claimed that she would commit suicide unless the criminal case against her husband Slava Bukvadze is investigated again.

The brothers Slava and Ruslan Bukavadze were convicted one year ago of organized robbery together with their friend Nika Khrushchev. The court sentenced the Bukavadzes to seven years in prison and Khrushchev to nine years. Natia Jashi decided to kill herself after the prisoners started a hunger strike in prison and sewed up their mouths with the wire from the TV set.

The family of the Bukavadzes was informed about the protest of prisoners by the representative of the public defender of Georgia. The family cannot pay the attorney 1,000 GEL to get the necessary documents for the visit to prisoners. Natia Jashi requested a meeting with the prisoners or meeting of the attorney with them. Without the documents the attorney cannot meet the prisoners.

The family is very poor. Maia Khrushcheva, wife of the convicted Nika Khrushchev, stated that doctors did not accept Natia Jashi at the hospital where she was brought for the burns because they could not pay for the treatment.

So, the young woman is treated at home by her mother-in-law and neighbors with homemade medicines. She cannot move and periodically she suffers from unbearable pains.

“I request the Prosecutor’s Office to pay attention to us and start another investigation of my husband’s case. If they do not do it, I will pour petrol on me again and end my life,” said the wife of the prisoner.

Mindia Nakashidze, director of Batumi Central Hospital, denies the accusations of Maria Khrushcheva and says that the personnel of the hospital provided the patient with medical assistance. He said the life of the woman was not in danger and she was discharged from the hospital.

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