Six people detained for inhumane treatment of convicts by Georgian Prosecutor's office
Officers of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia have detained former employees of Penitentiary Establishment No.8 on charges of degradation and inhumane treatment of convicts.
The detainees are Malkhaz Ghviniashvili, Nugzar Marghia, Zaza Kharaishvili, Vakhtang Gugutsidze, Davit Chikhladze and David Nozadze. Criminal proceedings have also been instituted against the currently imprisoned former head of the Legal Regime Department of the same institution, Oleg Patsatsia.
The investigation states that, for the purposes of silent obedience, the detainees were intimidating the prisoners, using methods of inhumane treatment against them, as well as exercising violence and practicing verbal and physical abuse. Up to 600 convicts were interrogated during the investigation.
“As a result of the defendants’ actions, prisoners were illegally deprived of the right to have a stroll, to have telephone conversations and the right to correspondence. They were also denied access to medical services and had limited time for sleep and relaxation. In addition, the prisoners were forced into secret co-operation with the penitentiary administration,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.
Investigations are in progress under Part 2 of Article 1442 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. If the defendants are found guilty, they are likely to face up to five years of imprisonment.
An investigation into cases of torture and the inhumane treatment of prisoners had been launched following the release of footage of prison tortures in September 2012. After 2012, dozens of individuals have been detained on similar charges. Some of them have already been released from the penitentiary establishment.
