Human Rights Center Appeals to the Ministry of Penitentiary to Ensure Prisoners’ Access to Healthcare

In the framework of the Project ‘Provision of Free Legal Aid for Indigent Population of Georgia’ implemented by the Human Rights House Tbilisi, the Human Rights Center defends the rights of inmates Ramaz Aslanishvili and Tamaz Kholuashvili of Ksani Prison # 15 and Rustavi Prison # 17. Their health conditions are grave but do not receive any medical assistance and their right to healthcare is violated.

Convicted Ramaz Aslanishvili is suffering from about 15 diseases. He has one kidney and implatant in the left ureter. The implatant should be replaced by a surgery. Otherwise his life will be at risk. The prisoner complains of inattention and inactivity of the relevant departments of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid.

Convicted Tamaz Kholuashvili has brain problems, suffers from the pain in the spine, cannot move and urges for adequate medical treatment. He also complains of the violation of his right to have access to medical aid by the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid.

The state groundlessly refused the above mentioned prisoners to take free forensic expertise. The convicted people cannot afford to have expertise.

The Human Rights Center petitioned to the medical department of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid several times and requested to provide the prisoners with adequate medical treatment, but nobody has responded to the Center’s petitions so far. The convicted are still without medical treatment.

In accordance with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, Article 3 of the Convention is violated when a prison administration and a ministry are negligent towards the health conditions of the prisoner. State bodies hold responsibility to protect health and welfare of prisoners.

The Human Rights Center has already appealed the Public Defender of Georgia and a chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and Civil Integration for further response.

The Human Rights Center calls on the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid of Georgia to study the cases of the prisoners Ramaz Aslanishvili and Tamaz Kholuashvili, to provide them with adequate medical treatment and to ensure their access to healthcare that is guaranteed by international and national laws.

Human Rights Center