Protest in Prison

Two detainees have sewed up their mouths in protest in the Zugdidi jail #4 within Detention Department for ten days already. They are Zaza Gergliani and Erekle Gvamriani.

According to the detainees’ lawyer, Shorena Surmava, they had been arrested in Sakeni on the 26th July. They were accused for criminal possession of automatic guns.  However the detainees say in conversation with her that they had voluntarily given up to the SOD officials in Sakeni and handed the guns. Despite that they both were arrested. The situation has further complicated for Gerliani and Gvamriani since 14th September when investigator Lasha Kolbaia blamed them for being members of illegal armed formation.

Sh. Surmava says that health conditions of both detainees are alarming. However the prisoners are not going to give up starvation and they say that to die and being in a prison are all the same to them.

The lawyer has already applied to the Public Defender’s Office, but in vain. The Public Defender did not pay attention to the fact.