Due to increased public interest, we would like to respond to media coverage of problems in penitentiary institutions, including Establishment No. 8.

The National Preventive Mechanism of the Public Defender of Georgia regularly monitors Establishment No. 8. In addition to visits by the National Preventive Mechanism, employees of the Criminal Justice Department of the Public Defender's Office of Georgia conduct weekly visits to penitentiary institutions (including Establishment No. 8).

The current situation in the penitentiary system is reviewed in detail in the 2024 report of the National Preventive Mechanism.

One of the biggest challenges remains the large penitentiary institutions and the overcrowding in some institutions, including the largest Establishment No. 8. A number of recommendations have been issued to the institution administration in terms of ensuring quality food, both relating to the menu and regular, ad hoc food quality checks by the National Food Agency.

It is worth noting that the National Preventive Mechanism carries out monitoring in places of deprivation of liberty are any settings where a person isconfined to a restricted space without prior notice, develops reports and recommendations aimed at creating guarantees of protection from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

As of November 20, 2025, the National Preventive Mechanism had carried out 114 monitoring visits to places of deprivation of liberty are any settings where a person isconfined to a restricted space. A total of 93 institutions were examined, including police institutions, temporary detention centers, penitentiary institutions, court waiting rooms, psychiatric hospitals, elderly institutions, temporary migrant accommodation centers, and military units.

The Public Defender of Georgia continues to monitor places of deprivation of liberty are any settings where a person isconfined to a restricted space in order to fulfill the function of the National Preventive Mechanism. Detailed information on the implementation of the recommendations issued by the Public Defender will be provided in the 2025 parliamentary and National Preventive Mechanism report of the Public Defender of Georgia.

The reports of the National Preventive Mechanism can be found at: https://ombudsman.ge/geo/preventsiis-erovnuli-mekanizmis-angarishebi