Over two thousand people in Tbilisi gathered at an action of protest against violence in the prisons of Georgia

Actions of protest against torturing convicts in the prisons of Georgia are going on in Tbilisi, Batumi and Poti. The number of participants of the action near the building of Philharmonic Society in the capital of Georgia exceeded two thousand persons, Georgian journalist Timur Kiguradze delivered on-the-spot reportage to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

It should be reminded that on Tuesday, September, 18, two actions started concurrently in Tbilisi and are still going on: near the building of Philharmonic Society and near Gldan prison. The participants protest against torturing convicts in Georgian prisons. Three journalists went on a hunger strike.

Participants of the action are the prisoners' family and friends, representatives of oppositional parties and non-governmental organizations. About midnight traffic in the central streets of the city adjoining the building of Philharmonic Society was blocked.

Actions of protest against torturing convicts in the prisons of Georgia are also currently going on in the towns of Batumi and Poti. The participants demand immediate discharge and criminal prosecution of the ministers of Interior Affairs Bacho Akhalaya and Khatuna Kalmakhelidze.

The movement of protest was caused by video materials showing tortures of the convicts in Gldan prison No 8.

According to the Ministry, operative inspector on duty Vladimir Bedukadze was announced a wanted person. Official charges were brought against three detainees: Chief of security department of Gldan penal facility No 8 Levan Purtskhvanidze, supervisor of the department Levan Pkhaladze and inspector Boris Parulava.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs of Georgia posted a certain portion of video materials on its web-site explaining that it was a minimal part of them for the remaining video records were inadmissible for public viewing. However, the same evening "Maestro" and "The Ninth Channel" showed scenes of severe beatings and rape in especially perverted forms declaring that they had a full video version of what was happening in Gldan colony at their disposal, "Novosti-Georgia" reports.

The TV channels reported that they received the records from ex-employee of the prison Vladimir Bedukadze currently staying in Belgium who during several months was secretly video filming the events. Talking to journalists of "TV-9" Bedukadze stated that the convicts were tortured upon a direct order of the Minister of Interior Affairs Bacho Akhalaya and Minister of Execution of Sentences Khatuna Kalmakhelidze was aware of these regular tortures also practiced in other penal facilities.

Bedukadze also declared that the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Georgia "trying to pass ahead of the shows of these horrific scenes on the oppositional TV channels on the eve of these shows presented its own version that video filming of torturing the prisoners was allegedly ordered to three workmen of Gldan prison by convict Tamaz Tamazashvili, ex-Chief of the police of Kakheti district who several months ago declared his support of the opposition and was arrested for storage and carrying weapons (Tamazashvili is a supporter of Bidzina Ivanishvili's coalition the "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia" and father-in-law of President of Cartu charitable foundation Irakly Garibashvili earlier sentenced to 3,6 years of custody for illegal carrying firearms - note by the "Caucasian Knot")".

We will remind that Bedukadze himself was announced a wanted person within the framework of the criminal case of tortures in prison. As for Tamazashvili, according to the version of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, he wished to discredit the Georgian authorities by these videos. However, leader of the "Georgian Dream" coalition Bidzina Ivanishvily called this a provocation declaring that Tamazashvili could not be involved in such an affair.

Vladimir Bedukadze also said that he had already given the videos to representatives of European Union in Brussels, "Interfax" reports. At the same time, the video scenes of torturing the convicts are spread on social networks.

Meanwhile, People's Defender of Georgia Georgy Tugushi already declared that he was raising the question of calling Minister of Execution of Sentences, probation and legal aid Khatuna Kalmakhelidze to account. He demanded from Public Prosecutor's office a thorough investigation and punishment not only for those who were directly involved in cruel treatment of prisoners but also for the persons "who by their tacit consent fueled the violence".

Minister Khatuna Kalmakhelidze, in her turn, states that "there was on order from politically motivated persons to create a conflict situation in the penal system and an attempt to initiate disturbances".