Family of Diseased Prisoner Requests Responsibility of the Minister of Penitentiary

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

Western Georgia’s Regional Prosecutor’s Office declared the murder case of Levan Kortava, 24, resolved. Employees of the prison # 14 and former inmates of the same prison were charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The prosecutor’s office claims that security inspector of the Geguti Prison # 14 Ilia Shanshashvili ordered this murder and former prisoner Giorgi Shemazashvili executed it.

On May 23, 2013 Levan Kortava, 24, died in prison as a result of grave injuries he had received in the establishment. According to the investigation, Ilia Shanshashvili did not combat controversy between Kortava and Giorgi Shemazashvili though it was his duty to secure the prisoner. 

Falsification of evidence, professional negligence, and premeditated grave injury of the body that resulted into death – western Georgia’s Regional Prosecutor’s Office petitioned to the Kutaisi City Court to impose preventive measure on security inspector Ilia Shanshashvili and imprison him. 

“Accusation prepared by the prosecutor’s office was motivated by evidence. Kutaisi City Court considered the solicitation of the prosecutor and sentenced Ilia Shanshashvili to two-month pretrial imprisonment,” prosecutor Aleksandre Chabukiani at the Western Georgia’s Regional Prosecutor’s Office told media. 

At the trial on August 4, Judge Davit Akhalbedashvili at the Kutaisi City Court imposed two-month pretrial imprisonment on the former inmate of Geguti Prison # 14 Giorgi Shemazashvili too; the latter is accused of ill treatment and physical assault of the prisoner.

The defense side claims the solicitation of the prosecutor’s office was absolutely not grounded and the court passed unfair judgment.

Kutaisi City Court will discuss culpability of three more detained employees of the prison – Davit Narsia, Giga Kokhodze and Aleko Babunashvili. 

In near future, other employees of the penitentiary establishments will also be held responsibility for the crime. Prosecutor’s Office speaks about the responsibility of senior officials too because the victim side categorically demand it. Family members of the diseased prisoner believe although the case was declared resolved, real offenders are not arrested so far.

Levan Kortava’s mother Khatuna Kortava said old regime is still in effect in Geguti Prison # 14. Supervisors still rule the prison and the penitentiary minister Sozar Subari is responsible for that.