Representatives of Ombudsman of Georgia Visited Bachana Akhalaia

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On March 18, 2013 representatives of the Public Defender of Georgia visited the accused Victor Kacheishvili, Oleg Patsatsia, Levan Purtskhvanidze, Guram Tsomaia, Gaga Mkurnalidze, David Khuchua and Bachana Akhalaia at the Gldani Penitentiary Establishment #8. The refusal of the accused Bachana Akhalaia to provide any kind of written information should be outlined.  

Accused Victor Kacheishvili, Oleg Patsatsia, Levan Purtskhvanidze, Guram Tsomaia, Gaga Mkurnalidze and David Khuchua stated that they were transferred to Gldani Establishment #8 from March 10 and 11, 2013 to March 15, 2013 and they were subject to systematic psychological coercion by the inmates of the Establishment. According to their statements, the psychological coercion implied the following: during their transfer in the administrative building inmates were stopping in front of the building I and assaulting convicts verbally. Acts of intimidation also took place. In accordance with the accused, verbal assaults and threat continued throughout 5 days.

According to the statements of the accused, on March 13 and 14, inmates resisted against the acting member of the staff, as the latter was trying to eradicate their insultive behavior.

Accused G. Mkurnalidze and D. Khuchua asserted that abovementioned facts subjected them to psychological coercion, which significantly hampers their mental health. They also state to feel insecure and request to be transferred to the special establishment where they will be protected from inhumane treatment and where their safety will be guaranteed.
 
The accused stated that they have addressed the administration of the Establishment #9 verbally for several times requesting not to be transferred to the Establishment #8 as they deemed such allocation impermissible and provocative for illegal conducts of other inmates. 
 
Public Defender of Georgia will carry out regular monitoring in order to protect safety of accused Victor Kacheishvili, Oleg Patsatsia, Levan Purtskhvanidze, Guram Tsomaia, Gaga Mkurnalidze, David Kuchua and Bachana Akhalaia. Public Defender of Georgia also calls the Ministry of Corrections, Probation and Legal Assistance of Georgia to undertake all possible measures for securing the safety of the accused.