Special operation in Batumi #3 jail

Special operation in Batumi #3 jail

On January 24th in the #3 Batumi jail, the head of the Penitential System Bacho Akhalaia carried out a special operation. Operative sources were claiming that weapons were kept in the prison. At the same time the gate of prison #3 was locked for the Adjaran Public Defender. They suspect that prisoners were beaten in prison. The head of the Batumi jail has been dismissed after the special operation, although nobody gives the motivation.

The head of the penitentiary department Bacho Akhalaia organized a special operation in Batumi prison #3. 30 soldiers together with the Ajaran Internal Police entered the jail at 7:30 the morning. After that, the jail was closed the whole day. Relatives of the prisoners could not deliver parcels.

According to the Ajaran Public Defender Giorgi Charkviani, “The operation was based on the information that there were weapons in jail #3. In spite of this, they took out only 4 mobiles and $100 of forged money.”

The special operation dismissed the head of the jail Davit Gogmachadze from his post. The deputy of Bacho Akhalaya, Goga Oniani, is temporarily heading Batumi’s #3 jail.

The new head of administration did not allow the Ajaran Public Defender Giorgi Charkviani to enter the prison to meet the prisoners. Charkviani states: “They almost arrested me, because my documents were overdue.” Charkviani’s document are overdue since the 31st of December, but he had no problems with the old administration because of it.

Members of the Monitoring Council suspect that prisoners were beaten which is why the Public Defender was not allowed in. According to advocate Nana Andguladze, prisoners are beaten: “I possess information that 10 prisoners are feeling extremely bad, but they do not allow us to enter the jail. They said that they are cleaning the cells and this moment they are carrying out bloody mattresses.”

The same concerns are expressed by the prisoners’ relatives: “We have heard screams from the jail, it seemed, that they were beating them.”

Later, in the night, the Public Defender of Imereti George Mshvenieradze managed to enter the jail. He met some of the prisoners. “Only several prisoners are slightly injured. They said that the soldiers only checked.” 

Maka Malakmadze from Batumi