Torture Victim Former Prisoner Requests Compensation of 160 000 GEL from the Ministry of Corrections

Human Rights Center appealed the court with regard to the case of one more torture victim former prisoner, who was declared victim of torture from the side of prison personnel. The former convict Paata Pkhovelishvili requests the court to order the Ministry of Corrections to pay him compensation of 160 000 GEL for physical and moral damage.

During imprisonment term hundreds convicts were victims of inhuman treatment and torture that significantly damaged their health conditions. Part of convicts received status of victim of torture from the side of prison personnel. Human Rights Center represents several victims at the court, where they have appealed against the Ministry of Corrections. 

The society knows that employees of various penitentiary establishments beat and tortured prisoners, that was systemic problem before 2012. 

Former prisoner Paata Pkhovelishvili is one of the victims of torture,  who was subject of inhuman treatment and torture during his imprisonment term; consequently he has grave health problems. Based on the victim notification, Paata Pkhovelishvili was tortured and beaten in Prison # 16 for what he received physical and moral damage.

In accordance to the court judgment, the prison personnel tortured inmates in group in 2006-2012. They occupied different positions in the prison # 16 and were public servants. They tortured and inhumanly treated prisoners that resulted into grave physical pain, psychological and moral torture due to its intensity and duration.

The Ministry of Corrections requests the former inmates to sue concrete former prison personnel at the court, who personally participated in their torture and inhuman treatment; the Ministry claims the torture victims shall not appeal the court against the State (Ministry).

Human Rights Center believes that the state was responsible for the safety of each prisoner because the convicts are under full supervision of the state. The victims of physical and moral damage can claim the compensation from the state and concrete individuals too.

According to the acting procedural law, both material damage and worsened health conditions are subject of compensation. Also, the right of victim to claim the compensation for moral damage is also acknowledged under the national law.

Right to fair trial is the most significant mechanism which regulates relations between individuals and the state, also between individuals and ensures effective realization of the constitutional rights and protects human rights from unfair interference.

Human Rights Center believes the state did not take enough measures to ensure psycho-social rehabilitation for the tortured prisoners. In similar situation, the organization believes that compensation for material and moral damage is one of the ways for the rehabilitation of torture victims and is ready to assist victims in the litigation before common courts.

Human Rights Center