Melor Vachnadze With Grave Disease in Rustavi Prison # 17

Mariam Khurtsidze

Georgian non-governmental organizations petitioned to the Minister of Corrections and Legal Aid of Georgia Khatuna Kalmakhelidze and Public Defender of Georgia Giorgi Tugushi to assist political prisoner Melor Vachnadze.

At the moment, Melor Vachnadze’s health conditions are critical. His blood was tested at the analytic diagnostic center on November 11, 2011. According to the conclusion he has infection in the blood which caused strepto-staphylodermia. Doctors clarify that if the infection appeared in the blood 5-6 months ago, the sick person might already have sepsis if the proper medical treatment was not taken.

Leader of the non-governmental organization Ara Levan Chitadze said Melor Vachnadze needs urgent medical examination. The gravity of his disease shall be estimated and he should take complete medical treatment in order to avoid aggravation of his conditions.

Police officers arrested Melor Vachnadze in June of 2009 during the dispersal of the peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament. He was accused of resisting police officers and swindler. Melor Vachnadze was convicted to four-year-imprisonment. Currently, he serves his term in Rustavi Prison # 17. It is noteworthy that before imprisonment he was completely healthy.

During the dispersal of the peaceful demonstration Melor Vachnadze was sentenced to 14-day imprisonment. Before his term finished, the prosecutor’s office additionally accused him of swindler. His former wife and father-in-law sued him for having sold their car. However, Levan Chitadze said the notary documents prove that his former wife had sold the car.

“Many prisoners died in prison since you have occupied the position of the minister. There are various reasons of mortality in prison: unhygienic environment, unhealthy food, dysentery which causes various grave diseases. Nobody pays proper attention to sick inmates that cause complication of their illness and finally it ends up lethally. Considering similar facts, we call on you to immediately take measures to estimate correct diagnose on Melor Vachnadze’s health and provide proper treatment for him in the corresponding medical institution,” the Georgian NGOs petitioned to Khatuna Kalmakhelidze.

“We kindly request you, under national preventive mechanism, to promptly respond to this fact. Human rights defenders and you know many facts of inattention from the prison personnel that finally result aggravation of the prisoners’ health conditions,” the NGOs petitioned to the Public Defender.

The Human Rights Center has also signed the petition.