The Public Defender has submitted an amicus curiae brief to Tbilisi City Court regarding the criminal case against Giorgi Okropiridze, who is charged with libel, complemented by charges of felony committed on personal motives (subparagraph “A” of 3^rd part of article 373 of the Criminal Code of Georgia) and giving false testimony, also complemented by charges of felony (2^nd part of article 370 of the Criminal Code of Georgia).

The submission of an amicus curiae brief was motivated by the importance of the issue for state policy in fight against torture, inhumane and degrading treatment.

The amicus curiae brief explains that filing charges against a convict for providing information about possible ill-treatment to the Public Defender’s authorized representative is a violation of the positive obligation undertaken byGeorgiaunder national and international norms. This case and especially the possibility of it turning into a regular practice create a danger of other inmates abstaining from submitting complaints about degrading and inhumane treatment due to the danger of criminal responsibility, which may serve as an unconditioned hindrance for the fight against torture, inhumane and degrading treatment.