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Statement by the Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre

March 28, 2006

Statement by the Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre

The ‘Human Right Information and Documentation Centre’ demands a detailed investigation into the recent incident at Tbilisi Prison # 5.

The information given by Justice Minister Gia Kavtaradze raises some serious questions. According to Kavtaradze, the Ministry possessed prior information about the riot being planned in the prison. The question must therefore be asked; why did the Ministry do nothing beforehand to prevent the prisoners from attempting to escape if they possessed such information? A second question that should be asked is; why was it necessary to carry out a special operation involving armed police officers?

It is believed that the government is trying to create an atmosphere of fear within society through the use of force. It is true that the government should fight organized crime and prevent criminality. This fight however must be conducted in accordance with the law and not involve violations of human rights.

The present situation has been further complicated and tensions increased due to the fact that journalists, representatives of NGOs and lawyers have not been allowed to enter Tbilisi Prison # 5. This denial of access to impartial observers is a severe violation of the law. The existing information vacuum has been filled by official statements - the credibility of which are often doubted.

The exact number of people killed in the prison raid still remains to be determined. Prisoners’ families have been applying to NGOs to get any information they can about the inmates that may have been killed. All attempts by the families to gain information about their loved ones have been in vain, as the information is simply not available to anyone.

The ‘Human Right Information and Documentation Centre’ expresses its concern about the incident that took place in Tbilisi Prison #5. The Centre places responsibility for the tragedy on the high ranking officials at the Penitentiary Department. 

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