Public Defender of Georgia Giorgi Tughushi requested to put end to placing inmates in the quarantine division of the Gldani prison # 8 for punishment. According to the ombudsman, he has already sent corresponding recommendation to the minister of penitentiary, probation and legal aid Khatuna Kalmakhelidze. He requested to take urgent measures to eradicate inhuman and degrading conditions and practice in the quarantine department of the prison.
On October 20, prevention and monitoring department of the public defender’s office monitored the quarantine division of the Gldani prison # 8. According to them, there are no beds but only chairs in 7 out of 15 cells of the quarantine division. The prisoners have to sleep on the chairs or on the concrete floor. The prison administration does not give them mattresses and blankets.
According to the monitoring team, there is tough air and specific smell in the cell. The prisoners said they do not receive hygiene items and cannot take shower. There is no electricity in the toilets and taps do not work in several cells. The prisoners cannot walk.
The public defender’s office reports that during the monitoring 140 inmates were placed in the quarantine division. They said they were placed in the punishment cells for having breached the prison rules. Public defender assessed the form of punishment as illegal.
“Inmates are often placed in the quarantine division for punishment in Gldani prison. However, this form of punishment is not envisaged in any legal act and consequently it is illegal. The prisoners placed in this division are not registered in the registration journal. So it is impossible to check how long time they spend in the punishment cells. During the monitoring, the prisoners said the period varies from 1 to 15 days,” said the representatives of the public defender’s office.
Besides that, attorneys cannot meet their clients in confidential environment in Gldani prison. Inmates meet investigators and prosecutors in the investigative room together with attorneys.
The ombudsman said the infrastructure is not enough to create proper conditions for meeting in the custody where 3 541 prisoners are placed. The new building, which will be ready at the end of October, will not resolve the problem either.
The public defender recommended the minister of penitentiary, probation and legal aid to react on the abovementioned problems in near future and resolve the problems on time.
On October 20, prevention and monitoring department of the public defender’s office monitored the quarantine division of the Gldani prison # 8. According to them, there are no beds but only chairs in 7 out of 15 cells of the quarantine division. The prisoners have to sleep on the chairs or on the concrete floor. The prison administration does not give them mattresses and blankets.
According to the monitoring team, there is tough air and specific smell in the cell. The prisoners said they do not receive hygiene items and cannot take shower. There is no electricity in the toilets and taps do not work in several cells. The prisoners cannot walk.
The public defender’s office reports that during the monitoring 140 inmates were placed in the quarantine division. They said they were placed in the punishment cells for having breached the prison rules. Public defender assessed the form of punishment as illegal.
“Inmates are often placed in the quarantine division for punishment in Gldani prison. However, this form of punishment is not envisaged in any legal act and consequently it is illegal. The prisoners placed in this division are not registered in the registration journal. So it is impossible to check how long time they spend in the punishment cells. During the monitoring, the prisoners said the period varies from 1 to 15 days,” said the representatives of the public defender’s office.
Besides that, attorneys cannot meet their clients in confidential environment in Gldani prison. Inmates meet investigators and prosecutors in the investigative room together with attorneys.
The ombudsman said the infrastructure is not enough to create proper conditions for meeting in the custody where 3 541 prisoners are placed. The new building, which will be ready at the end of October, will not resolve the problem either.
The public defender recommended the minister of penitentiary, probation and legal aid to react on the abovementioned problems in near future and resolve the problems on time.
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