Georgian opposition demands dismissal of Minister for Corrections

In Georgia, the social movement "Solidarity with Illegal Prisoners" demands resignation of Khatuna Kalmakhelidze, Minister for Corrections, Probation and Legal Aid of Georgia, because of death of a prisoner.

According to the data of this oppositional organization, in late April a prisoner Kakhaber Tediashvili was found dead in Rustavi Prison No. 6. "The circumstances of Tediashvili's death are rather dubious, which again confirms that prisoners in Georgian jails are completely unprotected," activists of the movement believe.

As reported in the statement of the press service of the Movement, Kakhaber Tediashvili kept addressing - starting from April 8 - the Minister for Corrections Khatuna Kalmakhelidze, Chairman of the Parliament David Bakradze and Ombudsperson Georgi Tugushi.

"It is still unknown whether Tediashvili was murdered or committed suicide. The fact is that he was found hanged on bandages. The responsibility for this is on the authorities and specifically on the Minister for Corrections," says the statement.

The press service of the Ministry for Corrections, Probation and Legal Aid of Georgia has confirmed the death of the prisoner; however, as far as the causes of the death, they refrained from comments pending the results of medical examinations.

According to Georgia's Ombudsperson Georgi Tugushi, 44 prisoners died in the first quarter of 2011 at institutions of the penitentiary system. Mr Tugushi has stressed that 56 percent of them died of tuberculosis, which is very high compared with 2010.

"Prisoners are transferred to hospital at the last moment, when their health condition is critically grave: this is done to ensure that deaths are registered not in penitentiaries. According to the Ministry for Correction, last year the death of 72 prisoners was officially registered; according to our data the figure is 142," the "News-Georgia" quotes Mr Tugushi as saying.

"Despite the reforms conducted in the penal system and assertions about a successful reform of the health care services within this system, I do not share these estimates, as for me the mortality level is one of the main indicators," said the Ombudsperson on April 28.

According to his story, Georgia has one of the highest levels of prisoners' mortality in the world. "In Europe, the mortality rate is 33 percent; in our country it reaches 51 percent," the "Georgia-Online" quotes Ombudsperson Tugushi.