Prisoners Forced to Queue for Sleep

Prisoners Forced to Queue for Sleep

Yesterday, Ajarian MP Petre Zambakhidze along with Aslan Chanidze, a member of a monitoring group, visited the #3 Jail in Batumi. According to Zambakhidze, he was interested in ascertaining the situation within the jail.

After the riot in the #5 Jail, the defenses have been reinforced in the #3 Jail in Batumi. Outside the jail, a unit of Special Forces has been mobilized. The Head of the jail, Archil Archaia, excluded the possibility of them entering in the jail.

The prisoners however are terrified of a possible onslaught.

“Just like last month (when a special operation took place in the #3 Jail - ordered by Bacho Akhalaia and based on information that there were weapons inside the jail), when they beat us for no reason - they could do it again”, said Lasha Khojanashvili.

There is only room for 200 inmates in the jail but there are currently 565 prisoners there. Because of the lack of beds, the prisoners are taking it in turns to sleep. “2 or 3 prisoners share only one bed. It isn’t up to me; morning or evening, whenever my turn in the queue comes, I must sleep”, said prisoner Nodar Karcivadze.

Maka Malakmadze from Batumi