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The Sick Man Was Sentenced to 10-year Imprisonment

June 9, 2009

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

Although accused Temur Akhmedov is seriously ill, he was sentenced to 10-year imprisonment. While passing the verdict, Judge Vera Dolidze did not consider the resolution of the Minister of Healthcare about postponing the punishment when the accused is ill.

Considering the health conditions of Akhmedov, the medical expertise was held on March 13, 2008. After a month investigation, 4 experts concluded that health conditions of Akhmedov are grave. “He cannot breath easily. He has Hepatitis C and B, tuberculosis and bronchitis. He needs an anti-tuberculosis treatment at hospital. The health conditions of Akhmedov are very poor now”.

The officers of Special Operative Department arrested Temur Akhmedov on Gogebashvili St. on October 6 2008. Since then he is in Batumi Prison N 3, in the cell for the inmates with tuberculosis.

Temur Akhmedov was found guilty for illegal purchase-storage and usage of great amount of drugs. Lawyer Avtandil Diasamidze protects Temur Akhmedov. “We requested the court to take into consideration the resolution of the Ministry of Labor, Healthcare and Social Welfare that envisages release or postponing the penalty of an accused with poor health conditions.”

Nevertheless, Vera Dolidze, the judge of the Batumi City Court, sentenced Temur Akhmedov to a 10-year imprisonment. The prosecutor Avto Kochlamazashvili demanded 11-year imprisonment. The defense side is going to appeal the sentence.

The trial was held in the jail on June 4. On the previous day, during the trial health conditions of the accused worsened and it was necessary to call an ambulance. The doctors from the emergency service explained that the accused has tuberculosis and they stopped his bleeding.

The Human Rights Center officially applied to the judge Vera Dolidze on the previous day and according to the Article 16 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia on the publicity of trial, the Human Rights Center requested to allow their journalist to attend the trial. However, the center encountered number of problems. The judge Vera Dolidze stated it was necessary to have permission from the administration but the head of the PR service of the Ministry of Justice showed us the list of people who was supposed to attend the trial and it was made by the judge.

The Human Rights Center visited the family of the accused. “He has been registered as a drug addict for a long time. After returning from Russia, he joined the Metadon program. He tried to give up drugs. After he was arrested, our flat was searched without witnesses; they did not even let me go in”, said Marina Akhmedova, the mother of the accused.

The Akhmedovs live in very poor conditions in Batumi. The only income of the family is the pension of Marina Akhmedov. “I pay 18 GEL for Eufelin for his problems of breathing. I have to buy Esentsiali and Ringeri to transfuse blood. My pension is not enough for these medicine from month to month. These medicines are not provided at the prison”.

The doctor of the Batumi Prison N 3 Zurab Oragvelidze was interviewed at the trial of Akhmedov. The doctor confirmed in his testimony that the accused was not provided with medicines. “Akhmedov needs special medicines and treatment which can be provided only at Tbilisi Central Jail Hospital”.

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