16:57, 6 December 2014

Georgian Ombudsman demands to investigate abuse of prisoners in Batumi prison

An inmate of Batumi Prison No. 3 has complained about numerous beatings by prison staff. Ucha Nanuashvili, the Georgian Ombudsman (People's Defender), has addressed the General Prosecutor's Office asking to investigate the actions of the prison staff.

Earlier, an employee of the Public Defender's office met the inmate, who said that his conflict with the prison staff occurred on November 11, the "Georgia Online" reports.

According to the inmate, prison employees did not allow him to get to the doctor. He tried to object, but they handcuffed him, forced into the dungeon and kicked him there.

On November 15, he went on hunger strike. On November 20, the staff again beat him up; and in protest he cut himself with a broken light bulb, the "Tbilisi Week" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 23, 16 inmates of Batumi Prison No. 3 went on hunger strike in protest against physical and psychological violence. The end of the hunger strike was announced on November 25, when the prison was visited by local officials and employees of the Ombudsman's office.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.