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Address of Human Rights Center about Inhuman Treatment of the Accused Giorgi Okropiridze

December 22, 2014
 
Human Rights Center is concerned about the fact of inhuman treatment of the accused Giorgi Okropiridze that has acquired systematic character for the past few months.

On September 22, 2014 Giorgi Okropiridze was taken to Batumi Prison # 3 from the Gldani Prison # 8. According to the prisoner, personnel of the Prisons # 8 and # 3 physically and verbally abused him. The accused person blames concrete person – Mindia Malakmadze, employee of the prison # 3, in the abuse. 

According to Okropiridze, as soon as he was delivered to the Batumi prison # 3 he requested medical assistance but he was refused. In response, the employee of the Batumi prison # 3 Mindia Malakmadze aggressively talked to the accused person and threatened him to punish for the hunger-strike. In addition to that, the prisoner claims he was placed in the cell where window cannot be opened, water is not supplied and there is no ventilation. 

Giorgi Okropiridze unsuccessfully requested the administration of the Batumi Prison # 3 to provide him with immediate medical aid because of his acute health problems. 

On September 25, Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia launched investigation into the inhuman treatment of the accused Giorgi Okropiridze but the latter was not informed about the investigation results. He requested removal to Gldani Prison # 8 because he has to travel 13 hours a day from Batumi to Tbilisi and back to attend trials at the Tbilisi City Court.

Monitoring by the group of the National Prevention Mechanism under the auspice of the Public Defender’s Office in the prison # 3 revealed problems of delayed medical assistance in the facility as well as problems in ventilation and water-supply. Transportation vehicles for prisoners are not properly ventilated; the chairs are shaking that cause physical pain during long-distance traveling.

 Human Rights Center addresses to:

The Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia to timely and effectively investigate the facts of inhuman treatment against Giorgi Okropiridze in the prisons # 8 and # 3. 

The Ministry of Corrections of Georgia to take adequate measures to eradicate aforementioned problems in the Batumi prison #3.

To the Penitentiary Department of the Ministry of Corrections to timely move accused Giorgi Okropiridze from the Batumi prison # 3 to Gldani prison # 8 in order to ensure his valuable participation in the court hearings. 

To the Medical Department of the Ministry of Corrections to take adequate measures to ensure access of prisoners to medical assistance.

To the chairperson of the Human Rights and Civic Integration Committee at the Parliament of Georgia to conduct effective parliamentary control over the Ministry of Corrections and Chief Prosecutor’s Office to ensure defense of the accused Giorgi Okropiridze’s rights. 

Human Rights Center

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