Georgia investigates allegations of torture in prisons

A team to investigate alleged torture cases in the Georgian prison system will be established in 10 days, the Minister of Penal Executions, Probation and Juridical Support Georgy Tugushi reported on Tuesday at a briefing.

"I asked the president to sign the decree in this period as the investigation of newly discovered evidence is needed. Unfortunately, a number of officials and prison system employees have to be punished", he noted.

Tugushi said the minister; a representative of Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, of some NGO's, the prosecutor, lawyers and international experts with an advisory vote will be included in the investigative group.

"Commission materials will be passed to the Georgian General Prosecutor's Office with the intention to proceed with criminal cases and the respective responses", the minister said.
Protest marches took place around Georgia within several days of the showing of prisoner torture on opposition channels.

Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Bachana Akhalaya, who served as the chief of department on penal execution at Georgian Ministry of Justice, resigned due to the scandal.
Previously, Georgian PM Vano Merabishvili accepted the resignation of the Minister on Penalty Execution, Probation and Juridical Support, Khatuna Kalmakhelidze.


/Trend/