Letter from Penitentiary Facility N17

(A convict asks for help)

Nino Kimadze

“One year ago I was operated on the right eye (cataract) at Kutaisi prison # 2. After the operation I absolutely lost eye-sight. Now, I addressed to the medical department of prison N17 to examine heavy condition of my left eye. I was diagnosed with cataract again, corneal dystrophy, which was spread from the right eye. I am losing my eyesight daily,” – Human Rights Center received this letter on June 15 from Rustavi prison N17. 

The prisoner Avksenti Popkhadze requests help and treatment in a special clinic: “It has been year that I am asking for help. They transferred me to a clinic a month ago, but the doctor refused to make surgery based on absurd reason. According to the doctor, he/she would do the surgery if I give up stealing.”

According to Popkhadze, there is no ophthalmologist in prison N17 and nor he receives the medicine to stop the vision loss process. 

The convict asks for help from relevant institutions to timely take ocular surgery.