Ombudsman States Prisoner Bazazian Was Delivered Dead from Ksani Prison to Jail Hospital # 18

Public Defender of Georgia Giorgi Tugushi reports that prisoner Mikheil Bazazian was delivered dead from Ksani prison to Jail hospital # 18 on July 7.

Giorgi Tugushi told Interpresnews that Bazazian had died in Ksani prison on July 5 and the information about his death in Gldani Prison # 8 is not true. Tugushi underlines that spread information about alleged rally in Gldani prison # 8 is not confirmed either.

“The spread information is absurd. On that night, when the prisoner died we were in Gldani prison and could not find dead Bazazian there. I do not know if there is any connection between Bzazaian and Gldani prison, but his body was brought from Ksani,” the Public Defender said.

Interpresnews asked whether Bazazian had already signed petition to the Ombudsmen, where inmates complained about mass violation of human rights in the custody; and the Ombudsman replied that Bazazian was not on the list. “We looked through seven signatures on the petition and Bazazian’s name is not mentioned there,” Giorgi Tugushi said.

Additionally, Public Defender underscored that violation of prisoners’ rights is not only physical assault; their rights are breached when prisoners cannot timely receive medical assistance.

“If convicted person needs medical assistance and it is confirmed that she/he could not timely receive relevant medical service, it is equal to physical assault. Thus, we should always pay attention to the expertise conclusion which could state whether it was possible to survive the prisoner from death,” Giorgi Tugushi said and added that they will study Bazazian’s case in details and will inform the society about the analyze results like it happened in other cases.

Tugushi said mortality among prisoners in Georgian penitentiary system is high and it shows medical assistance is very poor in custodies.

Additionally, the Ombudsman cannot confirm rise of prisoners’ mortality and points out that this information will be released after the data about prisoners’ death within 6 month is published.

Interpresnews