Statement by the Special Penitentiary Service
The Special Penitentiary Service responds to information spread by convicted person Zviad Tsetskhladze, which the Service describes as false.
According to the agency, this information aims to mislead the public, discredit the activities of the Penitentiary Service, and represents a deliberate provocative act.
Zviad Tsetskhladze’s Placement in N8 Penitentiary Facility
According to the Special Penitentiary Service, convicted person Zviad Tsetskhladze is serving his sentence in N8 penitentiary facility.
The agency states that in this facility, as in all other penitentiary institutions, the rights of every accused and convicted person are fully protected.
Healthcare and Sanitary-Hygienic Services
The Service explains that all necessary conditions have been created in penitentiary facilities to allow accused and convicted persons to use the services provided by law without obstruction, including healthcare and sanitary-hygienic services.
Supervision over sanitary and hygienic conditions is carried out by the staff of the medical unit of the penitentiary facility.
Disinfection and Deratization Works
According to the Special Penitentiary Service, the agency has a relevant contract with a company that conducts mandatory disinfection, disinsection, and deratization works at least twice a year.
If necessary, these works are also carried out additionally and outside the planned schedule.
Availability of Medical Services
The agency states that medical services are available in every penitentiary facility 24 hours a day.
Medical services are provided to accused and convicted persons in accordance with the standards established in the field of healthcare.
Transfer to a Clinic if Necessary
If treatment cannot be provided in the medical unit of the penitentiary facility, the person may be transferred to a medical institution for accused and convicted persons.
It is also possible to transfer the person to a multidisciplinary or specialized clinic in the civilian sector.
Penitentiary Service’s Assessment of Zviad Tsetskhladze’s Statements
According to the Special Penitentiary Service, Zviad Tsetskhladze is lying when he claims that he has been waiting for medical services for several months.
The agency states that he has always been provided with this service.
Response to Allegations of Improper Treatment
The Service also states that convicted person Zviad Tsetskhladze is spreading defamatory information when he accuses the facility administration of improper treatment.
Conditions of Serving the Sentence
According to the Penitentiary Service, Zviad Tsetskhladze is trying to mislead the public when speaking about the conditions of serving a sentence in a semi-open type facility.
The agency states that the convicted person has been classified as posing an increased security risk and is placed in a closed-type penitentiary facility.
Accordingly, he cannot enjoy the rights available to convicted persons placed in semi-open facilities.
Appeal to Media Outlets
The Special Penitentiary Service calls on media outlets to share only verified information regarding the conditions in the facility.
The agency also calls on the media to use terms with appropriate legal definitions when describing the situation.