Gldani prison scandal

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The Gldani prison scandal was a political scandal in the country of Georgia involving the recorded abuse of inmates in the Georgian prison system. On September 18, 2012, several videos were released showing prison guards and their superiors torturing, taunting, and sexually assaulting detainees in Gldani No. 8 Prison. The video footage, which confirmed long-standing allegations of ill-treatment of prisoners, was released two weeks before the October 1 parliamentary elections. [1]

Contents

The scandal was unique in Georgian history in that it was initially shared and discussed on social media, before the story began to appear on Georgia's largely pro-government television channels. The highly controversial video footage resulted in orchestrated rallies in cities such as Tbilisi, Batumi, Poti, Kutaisi and Gori. Upset by images of graphic prisoner abuse, protestors demanded justice and promised to continue their protests. Later that night Khatuna Kalmakhelidze fired David Chakua, the Chairman of the Penitentiary Department. [2] [ failed verification ] Several days later, Kalmakhelidze herself resigned.[ citation needed ]

Whistleblower

The video evidence of prison torture was leaked by a former prison officer Vladimir Bedukadze, who fled to Belgium and was briefly wanted in connection with the abuse, but eventually the prosecution decided to relieve him of criminal responsibility as a result of plea bargaining deal on the grounds that Bedukadze helped to uncover "systemic crimes in the Georgian penitentiary". [3]

Videos

Part of Gldani where the prison is located Gldani.jpg
Part of Gldani where the prison is located

In the videos prisoners are shown being raped with broom handles and police batons. [4]

Reactions

Student with sign saying "Revolution of brooms". c`oc`xebis revoluc`ia.jpg
Student with sign saying "Revolution of brooms".

Government reaction

Saakashvili demanded a complete overhaul of the prison system and commanded Vano Merabishvili to immediately enter all prisons with patrol police. "There must be zero tolerance to any violations of human rights, because we are building a civilised and humane country, rather than discipline based on violence," he said. [6]

People's response

An orchestrated protest rally gathered around the Philharmonic Hall on September 18, where the president was expected to arrive.[ citation needed ]

On the next day, protesters reconvened again outside the Philharmonic Hall and marched on Rustaveli Avenue towards the government's office. [7]

Student protests

The news was met with a strong response from Georgian students. The protests drew a large number of students who protested the condition of the prison system and the inhumane treatment of prisoners shown in the video. Student groups declared that the scandal was not an isolated case and emphasized that this was the fault of the system, which needed to change. The absence of free, impartial media sources and freedom of expression was also a cause of the protests.[ citation needed ]

Later developments

On October 1st, 2012, the governing United National Movement party suffered a landslide defeat to the Georgian Dream Coalition in the parliamentary elections. The new administration promised to improve the penal system and prison conditions.

In 2013, over the span of three months, the newly elected government granted large-scale prison amnesty reducing Georgia's 24,000-person strong prison population by half.

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References

  1. Videos of Inmates Abuse, Rape Emerged Archived 2021-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  2. David Chakhua profile Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Vladimir Bedukadze thanks government for exemption from criminal liability
  4. Video on YouTube
  5. "Armenian prisoner among the abused in Georgian Gldani prison". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  6. Georgia prison abuse film prompts staff suspension - BBC
  7. Protesters Want Resignation of Some Key Senior Officials - Civil.ge