TBILISI, October 27 – Georgia’s justice minister says authorities are considering removing the director of Prison No. 8 in northern Tbilisi after an alleged inmate beating incident at the facility.
Justice Minister Paata Salia said Tuesday that no final decision had yet been made about prison director Ramaz Pirtskhalava.
“At this stage, we are still discussing this issue and a decision will be made,” Salia told TV Pirveli.
The comments come amid an investigation into allegations by prisoner Davit Peikrishvili that several inmates, including men described as criminal authorities, physically assaulted him inside Gldani prison.
The Penitentiary Service initially denied the allegations. Peikrishvili was later taken to Vivamedi clinic with multiple injuries and remains under treatment, according to Interpressnews. The case was first investigated by the Justice Ministry’s General Inspection before being transferred to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Peikrishvili’s mother, Nino Abramishvili, said prosecutors questioned her son for six hours Monday night. She said he had previously given investigators detailed information about the alleged attack.
The case has already led to a change at the top of Georgia’s prison system. Penitentiary Service director Giorgi Pataridze left his post after prosecutors recommended that he be suspended. He was replaced by Ramaz Tatarashvili, previously head of the Shida Kartli police department.
Salia said he personally recommended Tatarashvili for the job, citing his professionalism. He added that accusations previously made against Tatarashvili by protesters had not been confirmed by any investigation.
“Decisions are not made in the state system based only on accusations voiced in the media, which may have a political background,” Salia said.
Abramishvili said her main demand now is the removal of the Gldani prison director and expressed hope that violence inside the prison will not be repeated.
