Ombudsman Reports MPs on Human Rights

Public Defender Sozar Subari delivered a report to the parliamentarians on July 14 about human rights record in the country, which covers second half of 2005 and beginning of 2006.
 
In his speech, which lasted less than an hour, Public Defender Sozar Subari noted that despite some positive trends ? involving fight against criminal bosses, huge concerns remain regarding the human rights in the penitentiary system. He stressed on the March 27 Tbilisi prison incident and said that the riot was provoked by the prison officials.
 
?The prison riot was spontaneous, as it was caused by beating up several prisoners by special troops and Bacho Akhalaia [chief of the Penitentiary System] was present there during the incident,? the Public Defender said, adding that police used excessive force while dealing with the riot.
 
He said that along with 7 inmates, who died as a result of the prison riot, 26 more prisoners died in the penitentiary system in one year.

In his speech Sozar Subari noted that he does not believe in an official version of Sandro Girgvliani high-profile murder case, which says that the crime was a result of a spontaneous quarrel between the victim and officers from the Interior Ministry?s Department of Constitutional Security (DCS). But he also said that it will be very difficult to prove that higher level officials were behind the murder.

He stressed on the fact that chief of the DCS Data Akhalaia, who is suspected by the Girgvliani family of being behind this murder case, is not formally sacked but only suspended from the office.

Sozar Subari recalled President Saakashvili?s statement made last June, when he dismissed by-then Finance Minister Valery Chechelashvili after several officials from the tax department were arrested for corruption charges. The President said at that time, although he is sure that Chechelashvili himself is not involved in the corruption, ?but it is not enough, it is important also not to have corrupt officials around you.?

He said that if Chechelashvili was dismissed only because his subordinates were involved in corruption, at least the same measure should apply to Data Akhalaia.

?Double-standard approach is unacceptable,? the Public Defender said.

In his speech Sozar Subari welcomed the ongoing reforms in the judicial system, however noted that the judiciary fails to stand criticism, as ?the court is not independent.?

The Parliament has yet to express its reaction towards the Public Defender?s report through passing an evaluation document. Voting is expected to take place at the next session which will be held on July 18.

But some opposition politicians, including Tina Khidasheli of the Republican Party, said the Public Defender?s report ?was not critical enough.?

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