Bacho Akhalaia: “Being 20 Meters Away from Thieves Cannot Guarantee My Security”

Interpresnews 

Former minister of interior, accused of torture and abuse of power, Bacho Akhalaia was taken to Prison # 7 from Gldani Prison # 8. Representatives of the Penitentiary Ministry told Interpresnews the reason of his removal was protection of Akhalaia’s security.

“Akhalaia was taken to Prison # 7 due to his security means. He will be under intensive protection. Besides that, Bacho Akhalaia will be placed in a single cell and there will be no other inmate on the third floor besides him,” the ministry’s press-center replied.

Interpresnews called Bacho Akhalaia’s lawyers but they did not have information about his removal to Prison # 7.

Reportedly, so called thieves-in-law and people convicted for grave crimes serve their terms in Prison # 7.

“Soon, Georgian society might witness when governmental officials will make statements with moaning faces that Bacho Akhalaia committed suicide in the prison,” a friend of former minister of interior Thea Tutberidze told Interpresnews.

“They placed Akhalaia together with so-called thieves-in-law and leaders of criminal mafia to torture; he fought against them during many years and it was his merit that crime was eradicated both inside the prison and in the country. This fact clearly demonstrates that this person is under oppression and society might get completely different result. It means, Akhalaia is personal prisoner of Alasania, Tsulukiani and Ivanishvili and they implement orders of criminal mafia. I cannot evaluate this fact otherwise,” Tutberidze said.

Member of Public Monitoring Group and correspondent of Interpresnews visited Bacho Akhalaia in Prison # 7. He said nobody breached his rights in Gldani Prison #8 and his removal to Prison #7 is cynism rather than protection of his security. 

Bacho Akhalaia said if somebody wanted to protect his security, they should have taken him to so-called Matrosov prison instead prison #7.

“I do not have feeling of long-term security here. At the moment I am safe but being 20 meters away from thieves cannot be secure for me for future,” said Bacho Akhalaia.

He said he was taken to prison # 7 in the evening of November 13 though nobody clarified the reason to him.

Members of the Public Monitoring Group reported that there are 35 inmates in Prison # 7 and 20 of them are so-called thieves-in-law.

“We did our best to assist Bacho Akhalaia not to feel unprotected. Personal security is most protected in Prison # 7 Bacho Akhalaia was placed today,” penitentiary minister Sozar Subari said at the briefing on November 14.

“I am fully aware of high public interest in this case. Bacho Akhalaia was placed in Prison # 7 because it is place where human security is protected most of all. He is absolutely isolated not only from other prisoners but from entire facility. Nobody lives in the part of facility, where Bacho Akhalaia is placed. Generally, there are very few inmates in this establishment and he cannot be threatened by other prisoners. The conditions are normal. There are three rooms with its corridor. Cameras are installed in the area. He also knows about these cameras because he has signed resolution on installing cameras there. He is protected from both sides,” said Sozar Subari.

He added that Akhalaia’s security would have been protected in every penitentiary establishment. “His security would have been protected in any other establishment but there [in Gldani prison # 8] many people were discontent about him and he could not be safe of shouting and insulting. So, we bothered about his security and took him to Prison # 7,” said Subari.