vano merabishvili

Vano Merabishvili. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The former interior minister Vano Merabishvili, who is in prison awaiting trial, will get a TV set in his cell today or tomorrow, according to the prison minister, Sozar Subari.

Merabishvili, who is a long-time ally of President Saakashvili and currently secretary of his National Movement party, is charged in several different cases. He went on hunger strike recently, and one of his demands is to have a TV in his cell.

Prison administrators and the Prison Ministry claimed that Matrosov prison where he is being held is not yet equipped to have TV sets in cells.

However, Prison Minister Sozar Subari told journalists today that he spoke with the prison administration and that Merabishvili will get a TV today or tomorrow.

“Merabishvili has the same conditions as other prisoners. He has access to means of communication,” Subari noted.

Matrosov prison, which is used to hold former government people, is undergoing rehabilitation work, and prisoners such as Bacho Akhalaia have been moved to other prisons temporarily.

The administration of the prison still hasn’t commented on this issue.