Will Prison #7 Be Closed?

Nino Kimadze

Public Defender of Georgia published report on the visit in the Penitentiary Establishment # 7 on June 19, 2015 and considering the report results he recommended to close the facility. The report of the monitoring group states about violation of hygiene norms, overcrowding, inadequate medical assistance and many other problems in the Prison # 7.

“After observing significant violations during the visits in 2013, Public Defender released several recommendations to close down Prison # 7; recent visit showed that nothing was improved in the facility since last visits; moreover the situation got worse because number of prisoners increased at 1/3 (25 persons) and it became more overcrowded. Thus, the Public Defender of Georgia still recommends to close down the facility,” special report of the Public Defender of Georgia reads. 

According to the report, main reasons for closing the prison down are ungrounded decision of the director to apply particular security measures in the facility, existing physical environment and sanitary-hygiene conditions in the prison, absence of timely and non-stop medical assistance, psychological and social rehabilitation programs.

Humanrights.ge contacted the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid to comment on the problems. According to the Ministry representatives, the Minister Kakha Kakhishvili and Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili discussed the situation about prison # 7 during their September 23 meeting.

“Of course, the Minister is informed about the situation in the prison # 7 and we have started work to eradicate problems. It is noteworthy that the facility has been functioning for 11 years and infrastructural projects are launched to improve conditions for prisoners. I would like to underline that despite outdated infrastructure, the inmates of the prison # 7 receive all services and full medical assistance in accordance to the law. There is no problem in this facility,” the statement of the Ministry reads.

In accordance to the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid, 77 high risky convicts serve their terms in the prison # 7. So if they are taken to an open facility, it will create problems for other convicts. Soon prison #6 for high-risk prisoners will be opened and part of the inmates of the prison # 7 will be taken there.

“As you know, penitentiary facility for high-risk convicts is being constructed in Laituri. After it is opened, we will completely close ground floor of the prison # 7 and arrange modern infrastructure for 21 convicts,” the statement of the Ministry reads.

Lawyer of Human Rights Center Eka Kobesashvili said the facility shall be immediately closed because it does not meet standards.

“Prison # 7 must be closed because it cannot meet prison standards. Human rights of any prisoner are breached when he is placed there. Situation in the facility is equal to degrading treatment,” Eka Kobesashvili said.

Eka Kobesashvili provides several inmates of the Prison # 7 with legal assistance. She told humanrights.ge that prisoners also complain about the conditions.

“The prisoners say they got several diseases during imprisonment because cells are damp. According to the inmates, there is not enough air in the facility and cells are not aired properly,” Kobesashvili clarified.

It is noteworthy that people convicted for grave and particularly grave crimes serve terms in the prison # 7.