Georgia plans to continue negotiating on exchange of prisoners

Currently, two other Georgian citizens are kept in South Ossetia; while residents of the latter are also kept in custody in Georgia. The Georgian party will continue talks on exchange.

"At present, South Ossetia still keeps two other citizens of Georgia; and we'll negotiate on them," Shota Utiashvili, Head of the Information and Analytical Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. As he reports, currently two residents of South Ossetia and a Russian citizen are kept in the country; they may be released under further negotiations within the mechanism for preventing and responding to border incidents.

Let us remind you that today in the village of Ergneti South-Ossetian authorities have handed over seven Georgian citizens, who had been serving their terms or kept under inquiry in Tskhinvali, to the Georgian party; in response, the latter returned seven citizens of South Ossetia and Russia, who had been kept in Georgian prisons.

According to Mr Utiashvili, the former captives feel good; however, they were very exhausted after staying in captivity.

However, the citizens of Georgia, released in South Ossetia, said that they had been beaten.

"Prison is prison. During the first three days I was beaten and threatened every twenty minutes. Perhaps, in concentration camps life was easier! I was accused of all sins; they said you had killed my sister or brother. A relative died in one's family; and we were made guilty for everything," said David Kapanadze, one of the released citizens of Georgia.

Meanwhile, the residents of South Ossetia, who had been kept in custody in Georgia, have also stated cruel treatment.

"Most likely, in Georgian prisons there's no special negative attitude to Ossetians, but custody conditions are very grave. Most prisoners are kept in old prisons, where sanitary conditions are very poor and cells are overcrowded. Besides, prisoners are often beaten," said Nucha Nanuashili, head of the NGO named "Human Rights Centre".

Human rights activist Emil Adelkhanov also asserts that inmates in Georgian prisons are subjected to beatings. "It looks like it's their custom there. For example, in one prison every newcomer is beaten immediately on arrival," he said.