Georgian opposition demands to respect the rights of inmates

Today, leaders of seven oppositional parties have signed - near Tbilisi Ortachal Prison No. 5 - a unified memorandum on the penitentiary system; later, leaders of the "New Right-Wing" and "Conservatives" Parties have joined the memorandum.

The signatories assert that not only the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, but also the Ministries of Public Health, Labour and Social Care, and Environment Protection, should be responsible for the current situation in the system.

The memorandum presents the penitentiary statistics, under which Georgia now keeps 18,000 inmates in the prisons, which have only 15,000 places. Besides, in 2006, 92 persons died, while from January this year till today - already 64 persons perished. In the cells intended for 20 inmates, up to 80-100 persons are kept, no medical aid is provided to sick inmates, there are no elementary hygienic conditions, even access to fresh air is restricted; the custody conditions are unbearable for old people, invalids and mentally impaired prisoners.

The opposition has moved seven requirements to the executive power of Georgia, among them: creation of elementary hygienic conditions, respect of the rights of sick inmates, restoration of the commission in charge of examining sick inmates, publication of a booklet on internal duties and rights of inmates, etc.