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Non-Governmental Organizations Protest President’s Initiative

May 23, 2007

Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and international non-governmental organization “Penal Reform International” calls upon the Georgian Parliament not to accept the legislative initiative of Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili which deals with the amendments and additions to the current Law on “Prisoners”.

Today, Giorgi Chkheidze, the chairman of the GYLA, said at the press-conference that enough liabilities are envisaged in present “Law on Prisoners” on breaching the discipline.

The amendments, offered by the president enable the director of the prison to use administrative imprisonment from 10 to 90 days. The charge will be used for those prisoners who breach prison agenda and do not obey legal orders. The administrative imprisonment will be added to the total term. If a prisoner repeats the same crime, administrative imprisonment from 20 to 90 days can be used as a punishment. The decision of the prison director is sent to local court where the question must be settled within 48 hours.

Giorgi Chkheidze stated that while estimating the term of the administrative charge, the fundamental rights of the prisoners will not be considered at all. They are the rights to the freedom of expression, to having a lawyer, etc.

Mery Merf, regional director for the international NGO “Penal Reform International” said that initiated amendments contradicts with the Human Rights European Convention, Article VI (right to the fair court) and contradicts with the Georgian Constitution as well as many other internal or international legal charters.

 
Source: Media News

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