Human Rights Center Requests Investigation into Alleged Facts of Torture and Inhuman Treatment of Prisoners

Maka Shamugia 

Human Rights Center requires investigation into the alleged torture and ill-treatment facts of prisoners in Gldani prison # 8 and Rustavi prison # 6. It was the topic of press conference, held by the organization representatives on December 16, in the Press Club of the Prime Time. 

"Human Rights Center is concerned that allegedly prisoners are still subject to inhuman treatment and torture. We request the General Inspection of the Ministry of Correction of Georgia and the Prosecutor's Office to investigate the facts that we report about. At the same time, we doubt the research conducted by the General Inspection of the Ministry of Correction will not be effective and therefore we believe that involvement of the Prosecutor's office in the investigation process is necessary,” said executive director of Human Rights Center Aleko Tskitishvili. 

“During one of my visits in prison my client informed me that on December 3 he was in the cell together with other seven inmates in Gldani Prison; at midnight 20 policemen entered their cell and took all seven inmates to the ground floor and informed that they intended to take them for drug testing. The convicts protested and asked clarifications. Prisoners requested to invite their lawyer or representative of the Public Defender's Office to attend the test process, though they were refused; afterwards they were beaten and inhumanly treated,” said lawyer of Human Rights Centre Nestan Londaridze. 

It should be noted that the prisoners were tested on narcotics on December 4. Visual examination and urine analysis did not show trace of narcotics in their body. 

"Tamaz Rasoyan received injuries as a result of the incident; more precisely he has injuries on his both eyes and bruises on the neck and leg; the prisoner has hemorrhages on other parts of the body. It must be noted that Tamaz Rasoyan named the person who beat him and it is Zurab Modebadze, Deputy Director of the Gldani Prison # 8”, - state Nestan Londaridze. 

Tamaz Rasoyan was victim of torture and inhuman treatment in the past years too. He holds status of torture victim and additional inhuman treatment against farther deteriorates his health conditions. 

In its address, Human Rights Centre mentions violation of prisoners’ rights in Rustavi Prison # 6 too. 

   

“Convicts Ilia Apkhazava and G.KH (the latter requested to keep his name anonymous) from the penitentiary establishment # 17 reported to Human Rights Center that prison personnel verbally and physically abused them. They were placed in the single cells without any reason, where there was no hygiene at all. Prison personnel threatened Ilia Apkhazava with the assault that could impact his future life. The prison personnel brought him to the point of the suicide attempt,” the statement of the Center reads. 

The address states that the expertise proved injury of the convict G.Kh while Ilia Aphkhazava was not allowed to take medical examination. 

Human Rights Center addresses to the Ministry of Corrections and Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia to adequately respond to the alleged facts of torture and inhuman treatment as reported by the prisoners and to ensure the defense of the rights of the prisoners Ilia Apkhazava, G. Kh, Tamaz Rasoyan and other convicts.