Mamuka Chkhitunidze, inspector of Gldani Prison, detained on case of torturing prisoners

In the case on non-human treatment of prisoners, Mamuka Chkhitunidze, an inspector of the Gldani Prison No. 8, was detained. He is charged under Article "torture". This was reported by the press service of the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia.

According to prosecutor Shota Tkeshelashvili, Mamuka Chkhitunidze, arrested on the case of torture of prisoners, was charged under Article 144-1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. "Chkhitunidze was detained based on the testimonies of prisoners of the Gldani Prison," he has stressed.

At present, in the case of violence against prisoners, 12 persons were detained, the "GHN" reports.

"New facts of abuse of prisoners revealed"

Today, Georgy Tugushi, Minister of Correction, Probation and Legal Assistance, stated that new facts of ill-treatment of prisoners in Georgian prisons were revealed.

"In recent days, we have started to work to reveal the facts of violation of prisoners' rights, and, apart from the facts that had already been revealed, we received information that in penitentiary institutions, there had been other cases of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, which differed in form from those that we had already seen on video records," Georgy Tugushi has explained.

The Minister of Correction, Probation and Legal Assistance urged the media to refrain from further dissemination of video records with torture of prisoners, since that might interfere with the appropriate response to them of law enforcement agencies, the IA "News-Georgia" reports.

Georgy Tugushi has also stated that within ten days, in Georgia, an independent investigatory team will be established to investigate all violations of prisoners' rights in recent years, the "RBC" reports.

Georgian students intend to continue protest actions in support of prisoners

Today, in Tbilisi, thousands of students gathered in front of the university building and moved towards the Ministry of Defence (MoD), protesting against torture in prisons. The protesters demanded resignation of the Georgian Minister of Defence.

Georgian students intend to continue protest actions in support of prisoners. Their demands remain unchanged to punish the guilty persons, responsible and involved in torture in prisons. About 10 student organizations have decided to create a coordinating council to develop a common plan of actions and strategy of the protest movement, the "PIK" TV Channel reports.

Meanwhile, some students representatives of the student organization "Laboratory-1918" decided to organize a march to the UN Office in Tbilisi. They intend to hold their protest action exactly at the time, when Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili will deliver his speech at the session of the UN General Assembly in New York.