Georgy Tugushi: authorities were aware of abuses at Gldani Prison long prior to scandal

The Office of the Georgian Ombudsman has repeatedly informed the leaders of the country of violations of the rights of prisoners, including those in the prison No. 8. This was reported by Georgy Tugushi, Ombudsman in Georgia.

"Report describes numerous facts of violations"

In total, within the investigation, 10 persons were detained. This was reported by Murtaza Zodelava, Chief Prosecutor of Georgia. The criminal case is being investigated under Articles "torture" and "inhuman or humiliating treatment" of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

According to Georgy Tugushi, actually, at present, the case of the abuse of prisoners, involves 6 figurants David Khuchua, Director of the Gldani Prison No. 8, Viktor Kacheishvili, Deputy Director of the Gldani Prison, Oleg Patsatsiya, Regime Chief, Giorgy Avsadjanishvili, a staff member of the security service of the prison No. 8, Gaga Mkurnalidze, Deputy Chief of the Penitentiary Department, and Giorgy Kintsurashvili, a staff member of the Penitentiary Department.

Georgy Tugushi told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the Office of the Georgian Ombudsman had specific information that in the Gldani Prison the rights of prisoners were violated.

"You should just open the Ombudsman's report for 2010-2011 to find out that the report described numerous facts of violations and inhuman treatment of prisoners. Despite the fact that the Ombudsman often had no complaints from prisoners, to whose names we could refer, we had specific information that in the Gldani Prison, the rights of prisoners are often violated," Georgy Tugushi emphasized.

"Georgian prisons were closed for NGOs"

The reports of inappropriate treatment of prisoners were completed on the facts revealed in 2010-2011. And a video record of the incident in the prison No. 8, according to the time code on it, was filmed on August 24, 2012. However, according to Georgy Tugushi, the names of the offenders appeared in the reports for 2011-2012.

"Unfortunately, since no one expressed any concern over of them at that time, we got the current situation," the Ombudsman in Georgia said.

According to him, the Office of the Georgian Ombudsman passes all materials on violations revealed to the Chief Prosecutor's Office. However, till present, no case has been investigated.

At present, Georgian prisons are in need of additional monitoring by civil society. This was stated by Ucha Nanuashvili, the head of the Centre for Human Rights.

"Georgian prisons were closed for NGOs after the election of Mikhail Saakashvili. Therefore, the use of torture has become of systematic nature," Ucha Nanuashvili has expressed his opinion.

"Disseminated video records shock entire Georgia"

Today, it was announced that the Georgian Patriarchate decided to postpone all celebrations, planned for the next several days, because of the situation in the Gldani Prison.

According to the released special statement of the Patriarchate, "the disseminated videos, which recorded torture of prisoners, shocked the entire Georgia," the agency "News-Georgia" reports.

In particular, in connection with the situation revealed, the consecration of the Cathedral in Poti was postponed with the blessing of Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, the "Georgia-Online" reports.

In his turn, Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia, instructed the Prime Minister to completely change the personnel in the penitentiary system. During the meeting with Vano Merabishvili, Prime Minister, Zurab Adeishvili, Minister of Justice, and Murtaza Zodelava, Chief Prosecutor, Mikhail Saakashvili declared the need to radically reorganize the penitentiary system in the country.

"It is not an isolated fact of torture of prisoners, and the penitentiary system itself fails, the reforms that would prevent such things were not conducted till the end," the "ITAR-TASS" quotes Mikhail Saakashvili as saying.