A guard tower in Rustavi prison. (Interpressnews.)
TBILISI, DFWatch–Two former inspectors at a prison in Rustavi, a town just south of Tbilisi, have been detained, suspected of mistreatment of prisoners.
Interpressnews quotes a representative of the regional prosecutor’s office who gave the names of the detainees as Temur Korshia and Giorgi Jgharkava.
The two are accused of organizing so-called ‘corridors’ for newcomers, where the prisoners are verbally and physically abused, while they are naked and forced to stand on their knees or run naked through the prison area. The detainees were aided in these acts by three other employees of the same prison, according to prosecutors.
The case will be heard by the city court in Rustavi.
In September, 2012, more than 1 500 prisoners signed a petition describing human rights violations in the same prison.
“We are being beaten and harassed by Davit Mumladze, Deputy Director, Ilo Lutidze, Head of Security, officers Giorgi Jgharkava and Temur Korshia,” the letter mentions detainees. “They used to break into our cells, throw our icons on the ground; then take us into a punishment cell and beat us.”
The practice of corridors, also known as a ‘welcome greeting’, has been well-known to the public for years through reports by human rights groups.
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