Giga_Giorgadze

Deputy Prison Minister Giga Giorgadze. (Ministry photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Prison Ministry in Georgia is considering closing the women’s prison, where new figures showed that 17 % of inmates are hepatitis C positive.

The prisoners in Rustavi women’s facility will be transferred to another facility, but it is still unknown where that will be.

Deputy Prison Minister Giga Giorgadze said Wednesday that the reason the ministry wants to relocate the women’s facility is the ‘climatic conditions’ in Rustavi, a town 20 km south of the capital.

“Women must have better conditions,” he said, without specifying the new location. But he pointed out that the ministry is refurbishing many of the prisons at the moment and will announce the new location soon.

The ministry also plans dedicate a prison in Rustavi to low risk prisoners and integrate it with a shoe factory, while a high risk facility will be located in the village Laituri in Guria. There are also plans for a rehabilitation facility for minor prisoners instead of special facility, Giorgadze said while meeting with non-governmental organizations.