As reported, on March 4, 2014 at about 2:30 a.m. an inmate died in Geguti #14 penitentiary as a result of confrontation  between  prisoners. The incident happened in a cell with five inmates there. 

 

According to the initial information, the deceased prisoner has numerous injuries, including in the area of head and a throat. The exact cause of death will be known after conduct of examination. Investigation has been launched on the case.  

 

Criminal Justice Reform Alliance of Georgia conveys its condolences to the family of the deceased and stresses the necessity of effective investigation over the fact with a view to detect and bring to justice all offenders. Furthermore, it is decisive to state the responsibility issue of representatives of the administration of Geguti #14 penitentiary who could have responded adequately to the confrontation between inmates and avoided the fatal end.  

 

The incidents of Geguti penitentiary detected for the past period illustrate that the administration fails to maintain the order and security in the institution. Regretfully, this is not the only case of prisoner’s death in this penitentiary. We would like to recall that in May, last year, prisoner Levan Kortava died as a result of violence from side of inmates. 

 

The Alliance calls on the Ministry of Corrections and the Penitentiary Department to carry out all preventive measures for classification of prisoners with observance of the placement regulations, which ensures adequate order in the penitentiary and security of prisoners and will decrease minimally the conflicts between prisoners and probability of similar fatal facts.  

Undersigned organizations: 

Prison Reform International, South Caucasus Office

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association 

"Women’s Initiative Support Group"  

The Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims   (GCRT) 

"Article 42 of the Constitution"

“Young Attorneys”

"Georgian Professional Psychologists’ Association" (GPPA)

“Youth for Justice”

Public Defender 

Global Initiative in Psychiatry (GIP) 

 

The Alliance was set up in the framework of the EU project “Promotion of Criminal Justice Reforms through Civil Society Involvement” implemented by the Penal Reform International