The Public Defender of Georgia has addressed the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia with a recommendation to launch an investigation into mass violations of human rights of prisoners in the so-called new part of the Ksani Establishment No. 15.

On June 22, 2012, representatives of the Public Defender met with several prisoners placed in the Ksani Establishment who talked about facts of violation of their rights. The convicts stated that they were often subjected to verbal and physical assault and that different types of violence and degrading treatment were most frequent from the time prisoners were admitted to the establishment to their placement in a solitary cell. According to them, use of unlawful methods of punishment for small violations is frequent. In addition, the telephone in the establishment is often out of order, and prisoners are not provided with the press and do not have radio receivers.

The prisoners named several persons who took a direct part in the violation of their rights. Among these persons are the head of the establishment – Shota Tolordava, his deputy – Dima Chkhaidze, Levan Lezhava, Gela Iosava, and a person called Ucha.

The application addressed to the Public Defender was signed by 693 convicts.

On June 23 and 24, 2012, the Public Defender’s representatives visited the convicts placed the Ksani Establishment No. 15 again. As it turned out, 28 convicts who had been most active in expressing protest against the situation in the establishment had been transferred from the Ksani Establishment to the Tbilisi Closed Establishment No. 1 in the morning hours of June 24. The administration did not explain the reason for their transfer.

It should also be noted that the convicts placed in the Ksani Establishment No. 15 often addressed the Public Defender with both collective and individual complaints in 2010. These complaints dealt with facts of beating and insults by the employees of the establishment. The aforementioned is also discussed in the Public Defender’s report of 2010, and investigation was launched into a number of such facts. The convicts named several employees of the establishment most often, including Levan Lezhava and Gela Iosava. The convicts noted that they were distinguished with particular cruelty.