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

Former Political Prisoner Urges for Restoration Justice

April 2, 2015
 
Nino Tsotsoria

Former political prisoner complained about physical and psychological violence against him during imprisonment term. He requests punishment of perpetrators. In his conversation with humanrights.ge Aleksandre Tchumburidze recalled details of his imprisonment term, when his rights were blatantly violated.

Aleksandre Tchumburidze was released after six years of imprisonment in 2013 as a result of overall amnesty. The former political prisoner had served sentence in Gldani prison # 6 since September 2006 for the explosion of the United National Movement’s office. However, the former prisoner did not plead guilty and did not sign the confession testimony either.

“After the arrest they took me to the counter-terrorist center where I was demanded to blame Igor Giorgadze, Maya Topuria or Temur Zhorzholiani [in the explosion]. I am former security officer and worked with Igor Giorgadze. I believed I did a good job but I had not committed crime and could not blame others in similar crimes either. They started beating and insulting me. I was arrested based on the testimony of anonymous witness so I could not prove my innocence,” Aleksandre Tchumburidze said.

The former prisoner said he was victim of torture and inhuman treatment during imprisonment term. He named that time director of Gldani Prison 6 Davit Margebadze who ordered his torture; as for executors, they were former prisoners Giorgi Kuparadze and Giorgi Goshadze. Aleksandre Tchumburidze hopes for the restoration of justice and requests punishment of those people who participated in his torture.

“They took me out of the cell to move to another prison but in fact they took me into a different cell where Kuparadze and Goshadze were placed. My life was nothing for them; they were convicted for murder and particular cruelty. Margebadze personally observed my torture though he did not hit me and was standing nearby. I was afraid frequent beating could damage my psychic. I was even crying. I did not expect I would survive. They demanded me to name the order maker but I did not blame anybody,” Aleksandre Tchumburidze said.

The former political prisoner sent applications to the Prosecutor’s Office and Public Defender’s Office during his imprisonment term but in vain. In reply to his letter, the prosecutor’s office studied Tchumburidze’s case and based on the interrogation of the torturers did not confirm the fact of the torture. After amnesty, Tchumburidze repeatedly applied to the prosecutor’s office but again without any success. With the support of Human Rights Center’s lawyers the former political prisoner will petition to the prosecutor’s office third time. Aleksandre Tchumburidze hopes for fair investigation.

“This time I will manage to prove my innocence. My friend Bacho Sharashenidze is in prison, who can confirm my torture. He told me the prison officer is also ready to make testimony in favor of me; he was on duty when I was taken out to be tortured. My classmates will also confirm this information. If these people are questioned, I am sure the prosecutor’s office will estimate the truth,” the former political prisoner said.

According to Aleksandre Tchumburidze, Bacho Sharashenidze was in his cell when he was taken out for the motive to meet investigator; in fact he was questioned about Bacho and demanded to blame him in the murder. After he refused, they threatened him. Aleksandre Tchumburidze was questioned at the trial into Bacho Sharashenidze’s case as a witness; during the trial he recognized the investigator who had demanded him to blame his friend but in fact that “investigator” turned up prosecutor into Sharashenidze’s case.

Lawyer of Human Rights Center Nestan Londaridze said first of all they will study the case and then address to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office with detailed description of the former prisoner’s torture and inhuman treatment.

“Aleksandre Tchumburidze was tortured in relation to other prisoner’s case too; he was compelled to admit the crime which he had not committed and there is document to prove it. We will appeal to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to immediately start investigation into this case and implement particular control of it,” Nestan Londaridze said.

Aleksandre Tchumburidze’s criminal record was canceled but still he cannot find a job. He is homeless and his sister assists him.

“I sleep in the basement. I have only one sister who helps me. I prefer to return to the prison that to be free in similar conditions; I have neither work nor house and future perspective,” Aleksandre Tchumburidze said.
 
The former prisoner cannot get a job and purchase a house after leaving the prison. He said he divorced after the arrest; lost house and cannot successfully integrate into the society.

“It is important that process of prisoners’ rehabilitation started during imprisonment term. It is particularly important for the prisoners, who have spent several years in prisons. After the release they face many problems outside. Although rehabilitation center functions at the Ministry of Justice, it is not enough for their full re-socialization,” Nestan Londaridze said.

For comprehensive integration of former prisoners in the society rehabilitation and re-socialization program was launched in December, 2012; every former convict can participate the program voluntarily. 

News