The objective of the visit was to review the implementation of the CPT’s recommendations made in the report on its 2018 periodic visit concerning steps required to combat the phenomena of inter-prisoner violence, intimidation and extortion and the influence of informal prisoner hierarchy in semi-open penitentiary establishments for sentenced prisoners (so-called “zonas”). The delegation visited all three such establishments in the country: Prison No. 14 in Geguti, Prison No. 15 in Ksani and Prison No. 17 in Rustavi. Further, the delegation went to the closed-type Prison No. 2 in Kutaisi and to the secure ward of Vivamed clinic in Tbilisi in order to interview inmates recently transferred there from Prisons Nos. 14 and 17.
In their response, the Georgian authorities provided information on the measures taken to implement the recommendations made in the CPT’s report.
The CPT report and the response of the Georgian authorities have been made public at the request of the Georgian Government.