The Public Defender addresses the Chief Prosecutor

13 08 2012

On August 2, 2012, employees of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring of the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia met convict P.B who is serving his sentence in Establishment No. 8 of the Department of Prisons. According to the convict, on July 15, 2012, one of the officers of the establishment was on vacation and officer Nika Tolordava was replacing him. According to the prisoner, on July 15, at about 20:30, he, together with two of his cellmates, was smoking a cigarette in the toilet (because smoking in the cell is prohibited by the administration). Due to the aforementioned, officer Nika Tolordava assaulted the prisoners verbally, took them out of the toilet, made them stand on foot in two rows with the aim of punishment, and made them stay in this position for about two hours and 30 minutes.
 
According to convict P.B., on the next day, when the prisoners in the cell were being taken out to the yard for walking, he was moving with quick steps instead of running (according to the convict, the convicts are forced to run during the walks). Because of this, officer Nika Tolordava returned convict P.B., together with his cellmates, to his cell and punished them again with standing on foot, which lasted for about two hours.
 
Due to this, the Public Defender’s representatives met and interviewed prisoners placed in cell D-63 of Establishment No. 8, D.T., G.M., and G.T., who confirmed the aforementioned facts.
 
In accordance with Article 21 of the Organic Law of Georgia on the Public Defender of Georgia, the Public Defender of Georgia has addressed the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia with a proposal to launch an investigation in connection with the aforementioned facts.